Inigo Martinez
Perhaps the most unlikely of candidates is Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez.
Over the past few years, Inigo Martinez has established himself as one of the most exciting young defensive talents of the game. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for precision, technique and strength. He is a great tackler and is surprisingly good in the air.
Of all the candidates, Inigo Martinez enjoys the best tacking success rate of them all (57). In addition, he has made over 135 clearances and 41 interceptions in a league with is touted as the best in the world.
He has been based in Spain for years and is perhaps an ideal candidate in that he is familiar with the style of play and therefore should be considered as one Barcelona’s cheaper alternatives.