Lisandro Martinez

After protracted negotiations with Ajax, Manchester United were successful in securing a £60M move for Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine center back, known as the "butcher of Amsterdam" is known for his tenacity, aggression, and composure at the back. He is a left footed CB which United do not currently possess. Having a left footed centre back in your side is crucial for opening passing angles and lanes that you would typically struggle to do with a right footed CB playing LCB. 

A lot has been said about Martinez's height or lack there of. Many people question whether he can deal with the physicality of the Premier League and especially some of the tall target men a lot of sides employ. In certain situations like set pieces and balls over the top he can be targeted, and in the right situation, exploited. However, Martinez's football IQ and reading of the game allows him to proactively avoid isolation in such situations. He is aggressive in his pressing and closing down, while also good at maintaining a high line. He tends to commit to the tackle as opposed to waiting for the perfect moment. Another aspect of his game that is very desirable is his ability on the ball. He is very calm under pressure, takes the time to identify the correct option to pass to, and helps his side build from the back. He is very capable of playing line breaking passes that can set up offensive moves. He is versatile considering he has been employed at left back and also as a holding midfielder by Ten Hag in the past.

Beating Arsenal to Martinez's signature was a great accomplishment for us. Given that he is very familiar with Ten Hag and his approach, his adjustment to the style of play Erik hopes to implement will be straightforward. It remains to be seen how he adjusts to the Premier League itself, but I have no doubt that he is a vital cog in building the Manchester United side that Ten Hag envisions. He has been unfairly blamed for the poor performances that United have put up in the first couple of games and has actually looked quite assured when targeted by opposition players. He is brave on the ball and always looks for an option to play it out as opposed to clearing it. While we might have overpaid for him, his value to the team this season is not in question.