Harry Maguire has signed a new contract at Man Utd and the veteran is still the best defender at the club while others suffer injury issues.
In theory, the age profile of Manchester United’s centre-backs should be perfect. You have the grizzled veteran in 33-year-old Harry Maguire, the next cabs off the rank in Leny Yoro, 20, and Ayden Heaven, 19, and then the pair who should be in their prime years, with Matthijs de Ligt, 26 and Lisandro Martinez now 28.
But the best laid plans don’t always come off. In recent weeks, it has been Maguire and Yoro who have formed the heart of defence, with that partnership only being broken up next week by Maguire’s suspension. Martinez’s return from injury should see him return after five games out.
Injuries are becoming a recurring theme for the Argentine, however, and with his contract about to enter its final year, United might soon have to make a decision. They have the option to extend the deal by one further year, and at the moment, there might be a reluctance to do more than that.
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On his day, there is no question that Martinez makes United a better side. His quality on the ball, the aggression of his defending, and his left-footedness are all positives. But his calf injury is his seventh separate spell out of the side since he signed, and having suffered a serious knee injury, he might now be in a cycle where muscle problems and minor injuries become a regular occurrence.
Martinez suffered two different foot injuries that cost him around 40 games and then a cruciate ligament injury last February. That is the injury players fear most and what was expected to be a one-game absence this time has crept up to five.
The £57million defender did return to training at Carton House near Dublin on Tuesday and he will be desperate to stay fit now for the remainder of the season. If he does so, he might edge out Yoro when Maguire is back from his ban.
For De Ligt, a return seems no closer. His absence is now closing in on five months, having initially been diagnosed with a back problem that was supposed to be fixed in a matter of weeks.
He has been close to resuming training a couple of times, only to feel more pain, and he was noticeably absent from the 25-man squad flying to Dublin on Monday. Patrick Dorgu travelled despite the fact he is not yet back in group training, but United felt De Ligt’s injury meant he was better off staying behind at Carrington to continue working there.
De Ligt is becoming the forgotten man of this squad and his fitness also can’t be relied on. United can’t afford to carry two prime-age centre-backs who are costing them the best part of £350,000-a-week if they can’t get them on the pitch often enough. At least one of them might have to pay the price.
That is why extending Maguire’s contract became such a no-brainer. Towards the end of 2025, it might have been expected this would be his final season, but he has got himself back fit and, when given a run of games, has reminded everyone of his quality.
In an ideal world, United might well look to pair De Ligt and Martinez together, but that is proving impossible. They can’t afford to let Maguire leave when their £99million defenders have fitness questions hanging over them.
Maybe next season that duo can prove the doubters wrong, but if not, then something has to give. In the Ineos era, when prudence has become a watchword, getting your most expensive assets on the pitch is essential.
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