According to reports, Hans-Dieter Flick, the German coach of Barcelona, is considering this option due to the injury of Alejandro Balde, the team’s main left-back, who has not recovered in time from a left thigh muscle injury.

Martinez, after the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, where he played as a left-back in the closing minutes, stated that he is ready to play in any position Flick asks of him. He said: “Flick asked me if I could play in that position, and I said yes. I must do my duty when needed, even if it’s not my natural position.”

Martinez, who has formed Barcelona’s defensive line alongside Pau Cubarsi, has played in 43 matches across all competitions this season, becoming an irreplaceable figure. The 33-year-old Basque defender, with 476 appearances as a center-back, has rarely been deployed outside his primary position throughout his career.

However, he has previously played as a left-back in seven matches: two with the Spanish national team, three with Real Sociedad, and two with Barcelona. Only at Real Sociedad did he start in this position, scoring a goal and providing an assist in his first experience in this role against Sevilla in December 2017.

In the Copa del Rey final, Martinez was moved to left-back in the closing minutes and performed well. He also played briefly in this position during the La Liga match against Atletico Madrid in the 29th week.

Now, ahead of the decisive match against Inter at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Flick is considering using Martinez again at left-back to fill the void left by Balde and relieve pressure on Gerard Martin, another option for this position. Martinez is fully committed to playing any role to help the team reach the Munich final. This decision is not yet final, but Martinez’s experience and flexibility make him a reliable option for Flick. On the left flank, he will be tasked with containing Denzel Dumfries, who scored two goals in the first leg, while also keeping an eye on Lautaro Martinez (if fit) or his potential replacement, Mehdi Taremi.