- Manchester United have officially confirmed the signing of Lisandro Martinez. The centre-back has joined Manchester United for 48.5 million euros.
- Martinez has signed a five-year contract with the Red Devils.
Lisandro Martinez has officially completed his move to Manchester United. The Red Devils have confirmed the signing of the 24-year-old centre-back.
Manchester United and Lisandro Martinez have agreed on a five-year contract. Martinez will have an option to extend his stay at the club by one year after his five years come to an end.
The Red Devils have paid 48.5 million euros and an additional 8.5 million euros to Ajax for the signing of Lisandro Martinez.
Lisandro Martinez. Photo/ Stretty News.
Around 1.7 million euros of Lisandro Martinez’s transfer fee will go to his former teams in Argentina, Defensa y Justicia and Newell’s Old Boys.
Arsenal slightly missed on signing Lisandro Martinez this summer. The Gunners were already in talks with Ajax when Manchester United convinced both Ajax and Lisandro Martinez.
The Argentine will link up with his former manager Erik ten Hag, who joined Manchester United several weeks ago. Erik Ten Hag signed Lisandro Martinez at Ajax in the summer of 2019. The centre-back joined the Dutch team from Defensa y Justicia.
Martinez impressed Erik Ten Hag due to his composure and long range of passing. The former Ajax centre-back was nicknamed ‘The Butcher’ at Ajax due to his aggressive style of play.
Lisandro Martinez helped Ajax win the Johan Cruyff Shield in his first season at the club. He won the Eredivisie title two consecutive times at Ajax, 2020-21 and 2021-22. Martinez also helped Ajax win the KNVB Cup before leaving this summer.
Lisandro Martinez is a good signing for Manchester United due to the brains and the versatility he offers. Erik Ten Hag wanted a centre-back who could play comfortably and make passes like Martinez.
Lisandro Martinez and Erik Ten Hag at Ajax. Photo/ TEAMtalk.
Martinez averaged more passes per 90 minutes than any other player in the Eredivisie last season. His style of play will fit at Manchester United if Ten Hag plays with the same style he used at Ajax.
The Argentine centre-back is also good at air balls. He has a success rate of 71 per cent at aerial duels. Martinez won 79 of the 112 aerial duels he had last season. The stats put him second among Manchester United centre-backs. Harry Maguire is the only centre-back at Manchester United who won more aerial duels than Lisandro Martinez last summer.
The arrival of Lisandro Martinez will create competition in Manchester United’s central defensive position. Harry Maguire, the club’s captain, and Raphael Varane will have to put in more effort so as to remain in the starting eleven lineup. Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly also want to feature in the starting eleven next season.
Lisandro Martinez is the third signing that Manchester United have completed this summer. The Red Devils had earlier signed Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen from Feyenoord and Brentford, respectively.
Malacia joined Manchester United for 13 million euros, whereas Eriksen joined on a free transfer.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login