Lisandro Martinez, the United centre-back, has been a major factor in the team’s success under Erik ten Hag this season. Despite his small stature, the Argentine’s £57 million transfer fee from Ajax last summer was met with much fanfare. After a shaky start to his Old Trafford career, which included a loss to Brighton and a 4-0 defeat to Brentford, Martinez and United have since found their footing and are now third in the Premier League and still in contention for all three cup competitions. When asked who his toughest opponent in the Premier League has been, Martinez named Arsenal’s Jesus, who cost the Gunners £45 million in the summer. The Brazilian had a strong start to the season, scoring five goals and providing three assists in his first nine games, but has been out of action since November due to a knee injury. Mikel Arteta recently gave a positive update on Jesus’ progress, saying he is pushing the boundaries and they hope to have him back as soon as possible.
In recent months, Manchester United have seen their investment in young defender Lisandro Martinez pay off in spectacular fashion. The Argentine, signed from Dutch giants Ajax for £57 million at the start of the season, has quickly established himself as a key figure in United’s backline and a major contributor to their recent successes.
Though his 5 foot 9 inch stature puts him at a disadvantage to some of the Premier League’s leading defenders, Martinez has proven himself more than capable of competing with their more physically imposing counterparts. Just ask Mikel Arteta, whose Arsenal side faced the 23-year-old when they faced United in November.
In a recent interview, Martinez named former Hoffenheim defender Jesus as his toughest opponent in the Premier League this season. Signed by Arsenal for £45 million, the Brazilian made a storming start to the season, scoring five goals and providing three assists in his first nine games. However, his success was short-lived, as he’s now been sidelined with a knee injury since November.
Yet manager Arteta continues to remain optimistic about a possible return. Granted, the Gunners are now 11 points adrift of United in the table, but a reinvigorated Jesus in the team could prove a formidable challenge for Martinez and company.
With Martinez leading their defence, United look likely to continue their success into the future. His impact has already been significant. Not only had he helped them to third in the Premier League, but they are still in contention for three different cup competitions. Who knows what heights he can take the club to come season’s end?
