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Tag: Lisandro Martinez

  • Erik ten Hag gives injury update on Casemiro & Lisandro Martinez

    Erik ten Hag gives injury update on Casemiro & Lisandro Martinez

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has mentioned that the return to action for Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro may take “weeks.”

    Casemiro has been sidelined for the past two months with a hamstring issue, while Martinez has been out of play since September due to a recurring foot ailment initially sustained in April.

    Although Ten Hag confirmed that they are not yet ready for action, both players have resumed training and were spotted at Carrington last week.

    On a positive note, Rasmus Hojlund is expected to be eligible for the Red Devils’ match against Wigan Athletic, as per the Dutchman’s statement.

    Talking at a pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said [via ESPN]: “They [Casemiro and Martinez] are a long time already back on the grass and now they return back into team training but not fully, so partial. Now they have to make the next steps and that may take some days, I think even weeks.

    “He [Hojlund] will return. He dropped out shortly before the game [against Forest] and so he was a little bit unwell before the game.

    The day before we expected him to play and then he dropped out shortly before the game but he is back in training.”

    Rasmus Hojlund has faced challenges in the league, managing to score only once in 15 appearances, and that lone goal came in his recent outing for the Red Devils.

    The prolonged absence of Casemiro and Martinez has been detrimental to Manchester United’s season, leading to their exit from the Champions League and an overall lacklustre performance in the league.

    In their upcoming fixture, United will face Championship side Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup.

    Hojlund is expected to be in the starting lineup, aiming to gain momentum against a comparatively weaker opponent.

  • Jude Bellingham explains the aftermath of his clash with Utd’s Martinez during friendly

    Jude Bellingham explains the aftermath of his clash with Utd’s Martinez during friendly

    Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham expressed his deep respect for Lisandro Martinez, despite having a clash with the Manchester United defender during their friendly match in Houston.

    Bellingham took exception to a robust challenge made by Martinez, but he clarified that both players demonstrated mutual respect for each other during half-time.

    “The little tiff with Martinez is one of those things. He is a brilliant player. I came in at half-time and I was f’ing this and f’ing that. But when he came over to wish me all the best when he came off, I really respected it,” Bellingham told reporters.


    “I know what goes on the pitch stays on the pitch. I saw him at the end of the game and wished him well.

    “I can respect that when two players are trying to win for their team and can come together and be respectful after the game.


    He is a great competitor and a great player. Just like me, he wants to win. Sometimes it spills over. That is part of the game. I am really respectful. We can have that moment after the game.”

    Bellingham scored his first goal for Real Madrid to give Los Blancos the lead in an eventual 2-0 win over United.


    The England midfielder said he was settling in well to his new club after his £115 million ($149m) move from Borussia Dortmund. “I was confident coming here because I knew how good the players were.


    I know the qualities I can bring and I feel like I have slotted in. The role I am playing is enjoyable. I had a decent game against AC Milan and a decent one today. I just want to keep up the rhythm going into the season,” said the 20-year-old.


    Los Blancos face arch rivals Barcelona in a friendly at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday in what will be Bellingham’s first experience of El Clasico.

  • Martinez out for the season due to his injury while Varane absent for ‘a few weeks’

    Martinez out for the season due to his injury while Varane absent for ‘a few weeks’

    Manchester United have confirmed Lisandro Martinez will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a fractured metatarsal during Thursday’s Europa League draw against Sevilla.

    Martinez was carried from the field by Sevilla’s Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel — his Argentina team-mates — after going down unchallenged in the closing stages at Old Trafford.

    With Erik ten Hag having already used all of his substitutes, United were forced to finish the quarter-final first-leg clash with 10 men and Sevilla took advantage to salvage a 2-2 draw from two goals down.

    The Red Devils on Friday confirmed centre-back Martinez will not feature again in the 2022-23 campaign.

    “Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot,” a club statement said.

    “However, the Argentinian defender is expected to make a full recovery in time to be ready for the start of next season.”

    Martinez was not the only casualty in United’s backline on Thursday as Raphael Varane was replaced at half-time after sustaining a knock, and the Frenchman is set to be out “for a few weeks”.

    Martinez and Varane have built a solid defensive partnership this term, starting together in 16 of United’s 29 Premier League games during Ten Hag’s first season in charge.

    The injuries represent a huge blow for United, who will look to boost their hopes of a top-four finish at Nottingham Forest on Sunday ahead of Thursday’s return fixture against Sevilla.

    With Martinez and Varane absent, Ten Hag is likely to turn to Harry Maguire — who put through his own net late on against Sevilla — and Victor Lindelof for United’s forthcoming fixtures.

    United are already without leading goalscorer Marcus Rashford after the 25-year-old suffered a muscle injury, while Bruno Fernandes will be suspended for next week’s trip to Seville.

  • Martinez confident Man Utd are on ‘patient’ path towards silverware under Ten Hag

    Lisandro Martinez believes Manchester United are on track to compete for honours under Erik ten Hag, but says the Red Devils must remain grounded following their turnaround in fortunes.

    United began the campaign with humiliating back-to-back losses to Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford, but have won six of their eight subsequent Premier League fixtures to sit fifth in the table.

    Ten Hag’s team could now leapfrog Chelsea into a top-four spot when they face the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, having won three of their last four away league games.

    United claimed one of their most impressive results of the season last time out, as goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes downed Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford, and Martinez says that display was the culmination of much work from Ten Hag’s team.

    Asked whether Wednesday’s win represented their best performance of the season, Martinez told Sky Sports: “I think so. We did a great job.

    “We controlled the game, the whole 90 minutes. I think they had only one chance in the first half and then we were solid in defence.

    “I am really happy because we tried really hard to play at this level. We want to play this way. It is fantastic to do it.”

    Martinez was heavily criticised for his own role in United’s early-season woes, with detractors suggesting the Argentina international did have the necessary physical attributes to thrive in England.

    But the former Ajax man stressed the importance of remaining calm as he added: “Sometimes we have to be patient, you know. Especially in the beginning, we know that we did not play how we wanted.

    “But it is part of football, we learn. It is experience. We have a new team, a new system. Now we have to keep going.

    “It is difficult. Especially in football, you don’t have time. If you lose you are a really bad player or a really bad team. But we know what we are. We have to be calm, we have to be patient, and always try hard.

    “For sure, our ambition is to win titles, to put Manchester United where they deserve [to be].

    “I think we are in a good way to do it. But we have to keep our feet on the ground, we have to be humble and take it step by step.”

    Martinez was also asked to name his defensive role model, and selected another fiery Argentine, one who participated in a Premier League title win with United in the 2006-07 season.

    “Gabriel Heinze is my idol,” Martinez added. “I love him. I love the way he played, very aggressive, good mentality, good mentality in the duels.

    “[He played] every game as a final. He was a top player. I try to play like him. We are a bit different as well, but I like his mentality.”

    United are bidding to improve on a poor record at Stamford Bridge – their 20 per cent win rate (6/30) in away Premier League games against Chelsea is their worst record against any side they have faced more than twice on the road.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Manchester United agree £80m deal for Ajax winger – Antony

    With Ajax, Manchester United has reached an agreement to acquire Brazilian winger Antony.

    United will reportedly pay an initial fee of £80.75 million plus a further £4.25 million in add-ons.

    Within the next 48 hours, the 22-year-old is expected to travel to Manchester to get a medical.

    Antony would become Manchester United’s joint-second most expensive signing alongside defender Harry Maguire – the £89m paid for Paul Pogba remains the club’s record.

    Antony scored 25 goals and provided 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax, having joined the Dutch side from Sao Paulo in 2020 and played under current United boss Erik ten Hag.

    He made his international debut for Brazil in October 2021 and has two goals in nine appearances.

    Antony, who contributed to seven goals in his 11 Champions League appearances for Ajax, would also become the joint-fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history.

    Only Pogba’s move to United, Chelsea’s signing of Romelu Lukaku, and Manchester City’s deal for Jack Grealish would be more costly.

    United travel to Leicester City in their next Premier League fixture on Thursday, 1 September, but Antony would need to receive a work permit before making an appearance.

    The attacker would become United’s fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of his former Ajax team-mate, defender Lisandro Martinez, midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid, full-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, and playmaker Christian Eriksen on a free transfer.

    Speculation also remains as to whether Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at the club following concerns about how the 37-year-old’s mood is affecting morale in the camp.

  • Van Nistelrooy hopeful of keeping Man Utd target Gakpo at PSV

    Ruud van Nistelrooy is hopeful PSV can ward off Manchester United’s interest in winger Cody Gakpo, as he praised the Netherlands international for maintaining his focus amid widespread transfer speculation.

    United have brought in Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and most recently Casemiro during a busy transfer window, but reports suggest Erik ten Hag is looking to his homeland in his attempts to add a winger.

    Ajax’s Antony who was left out of their squad for a 1-0 win at Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday and PSV star Gakpo are both reported targets.

    Gakpo scored 21 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions for PSV last season and has been tipped to provide competition for Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho should he join United.

    But PSV coach Van Nistelrooy, who himself scored 95 Premier League goals in a successful five-year spell at Old Trafford, is desperate to keep the 23-year-old.

    “There have been rumours for a long time. It is clear that we would like to keep him,” Van Nistelrooy said.

    “I have been working with him for eight weeks now and have not seen a single moment that he shows different behaviour. That is very nice for someone his age.”

    PSV face Rangers in the second leg of their Champions League qualification play-off on Wednesday, having rescued a 2-2 draw in last week’s first meeting at Ibrox.

    Source:Livesoccer.com

  • Manchester United complete Lisandro Martinez signing from Ajax in £57m deal

    Lisandro Martinez has finalised a deal worth up to 67m euros (£57m) with Manchester United.

    He leaves Ajax to join the Red Devils on a five-year contract which keeps him at Old Trafford until 2027, with the option of a further year.

    Martinez has stated that he is pleased to join Man Utd, a club he describes as great.

    “It’s an honour to join this great football club. I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and, now that I’m here, I’m going to push myself even further,” Martinez said.

    United manager Erik ten Hag was keen to be reunited with the 24-year-old, who he signed for Ajax in 2019.

    Martinez made 120 appearances for Ajax after moving from Argentinian side Defensa y Justicia for £6.3m in 2019, and also played for Newell’s Old Boys.

    He has won seven caps for Argentina since making his senior debut in March 2019, and played once in the country’s successful Copa America campaign in 2021.

    “I’ve been lucky enough to be part of successful teams in my career and that’s what I want to continue at Manchester United,” he said.

    “There will be a lot of work to get to that moment, but I firmly believe that, under this manager and coaches, and together with my new team-mates, we can do it.”

    Martinez played under Ten Hag at Ajax and won the Eredivisie title with the club in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Dutch Cup in 2021.

    He was also Ajax’s player of the year for the 2021-22 season.

    “He’s a warrior and I think the fans will admire him. He has an attitude, fighting spirit,” Ten Hag said.

    “He brings aggressiveness in the game, in a good way. I think we need that.

    “But he’s also skilful, he can deal with the ball and he’s left-footed.”

    United’s football director John Murtough added: “We are delighted that he has chosen to join Manchester United and we are looking forward to seeing him develop further and help the team achieve the success we are aiming for.”

    The centre-back is United’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Christian Eriksen on a free transfer and Dutch full-back Tyrell Malacia.

    Efforts continue to lure Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford from Barcelona.

  • Manchester United agree Lisandro Martinez deal with Ajax worth £45m

    Manchester United are on the verge of completing their third summer signing after agreeing a £45m deal with Ajax for Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez.

    United manager Erik ten Hag was keen to be reunited with the 24-year-old, who he signed for Ajax in 2019.

    The Dutch club were reluctant to let Martinez leave but United chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough progressed the deal when they visited Amsterdam last week.

    Martinez prefers to play on the left side of two central defenders and Ten Hag appeared to be planning for his arrival with his team selection against Melbourne Victory on Friday, when he moved captain Harry Maguire from his normal left-sided role to the right.

    Instagram picture of agent Christian Bragarnik and Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez with caption reading 'heading to Manchester'
    Martinez posted this picture of himself and agent Christian Bragarnik with a caption reading ‘heading to Manchester’

    Martinez has flown to Manchester for a medical and to wrap up the remaining elements of the transfer, including getting a visa.

    It is thought unlikely he will fly to Australia to play any part in United’s current tour and instead will link up with his new team-mates when they return to England on 24 July.

    It has been a busy few days for United’s recruiting staff.

    On Friday, they confirmed Christian Eriksen had signed a three-year contract while efforts continue to lure Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford from Barcelona.

    Despite reports that Netherlands midfielder De Jong may be left out of Barca’s US tour to encourage him to agree a move, he has been named in the squad.

    Dutch full-back Tyrell Malacia was United’s first summer signing at the start of July.

    Source: BBC