IN SPORT.ES
Atheltic Club have worked quickly to find a replacement for Aymeric Laporte, who left for Manchester City for his 65 million euros release clause this week.
The Basque side have exercised Real Sociedad defender Iñigo Martinez's 32 million release clause to fill the gap.
Martinez was Athletic's priority. The coaches weighed up the options, but the Spain international was their top target by a distance.
In a short and intense negotiation, president Jose Urrutia convinced the player, who has previously said he would never sign for La Real's rivals, to join the club on a salary of five million per year.
Martinez communicated the decision to La Real on Monday and president Jokin Aperribay has been left without time to react.
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Athletic received the 65 million from City for Laporte yesterday and in the coming hours will deposit the 32 million for Martinez.