Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez has established himself back in the first-team at Old Trafford following a serious injury
You only need to cast your mind back to November to fully appreciate how impressive Lisandro Martinez’s return to football at Manchester United has been. After suffering an ACL injury against Crystal Palace back in February 2025, United fans feared they may have seen the last of Martinez’s best days at Old Trafford.
During his time at United, he has picked up serious injuries to his foot and metatarsal. After both of those injuries, he managed to bounce back but Erik ten Hag was no longer in the hot seat and he was returning to a squad which had changed significantly.
Ruben Amorim was still persisting with the 3-4-2-1 system but now Luke Shaw was available to fill in and was impressing at left centre-back. There was no way the United head coach was going to drop Shaw while his performances levels were so high. It was not as if he could be moved to wing-back to accommodate Martinez either.
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But since Boxing Day, the Argentine has started and played the full 90 minutes in every Premier League game. Leny Yoro’s initial drop in form helped Martinez to find a way back into the starting XI and since then, he has not looked back.
Once Amorim left following the draw with Leeds, Martinez was always going to be the favourite to keep his place in the team. Alongside Harry Maguire, United have found a solid defensive base which they have lacked for much of this season. As for Shaw, with both Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick preferring a four at the back system, he has been able to revert to left-back where he is comfortable.
Even when doubted, Martinez has managed to step up to the plate. He rightly called out Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt’s criticism of him and proved them wrong as he dealt with Erling Haaland to much acclaim.
But he has not let that be a one off. Martinez has continued performing solidly in the heart of the defence as United moved five games unbeaten last Tuesday.
All of this is standing him in good stead to remain at Old Trafford beyond 2027. The defender’s contract will expire at the end of next season and there was a school of thought, not too long ago, which suggested he could be let go.
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An ageing player, who has suffered multiple serious injuries did not exactly standout as an obvious candidate for a contract extension. And yet, despite his exit from United looking inevitable, he has now completely switched the narrative.
‘How can United afford to let him go?’ That is the question now being asked ahead of the summer which could see two experienced heads leave. Casemiro is already gone and Maguire’s future beyond this season is unclear with the Reds having not yet agreed a new deal for him.
Should he depart with the Brazil international, that would be two leaders in the dressing room out of the club. Losing Martinez as well just a year later now seems like a mistake which can be avoided.
Ask any match-going supporter and you would struggle to hear a bad word said about Martinez. He has the passion and leadership which United have cried out for during the dark times.
Now under Carrick’s watch, Martinez has become a player who can carry this defence and that looked unthinkable a matter of months ago. The 28-year-old is once again part of the furniture at Old Trafford and whoever is the permanent head coach going into next season would be daft not to consider him in their long-term plans.
