Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez "isn't terribly quick or terribly good on the ball" according to Liverpool legend Graeme Souness.
The Scotsman conceded he still sees plenty of weaknesses in the Argentine's game, though the comments come as quite the surprise considering Martinez has arguably been United's standout performer since his arrival from Ajax in the summer. After a shaky opening two games, the centre-back has really adapted to the rigours of the Premier League.
Many have put the early jitters down to the fact that Martinez was being partnered alongside much-maligned club captain Harry Maguire. Since the skipper has come out of the team and Raphael Varane has replaced him, the two-time Eredivisie champion has looked like a different player.
Martinez was part of a back-line that kept another clean sheet on Sunday afternoon as the Red Devils toppled West Ham 1-0 courtesy of a Marcus Rashford header. Purchased for £47million not including add-ons, the general consensus among the Old Trafford faithful is that the Argentina international was worth every penny.
Souness, however, remains unconvinced. The Reds icon-turned-pundit was asked if his opinion on Martinez had changed since the opening exchanges of the season, to which he told talkSPORT : "That worry for me is still there, if you watch at set-pieces he's either used as a blocker or they use him on the near post."
Asked if he'd gone too harsh on him previously, Souness stood firm, adding: "Not at all, I still don't think he's terribly quick, I don't think he's terribly good on the ball."
He went on to raise fears over his height and when asked if Martinez would get 'found out', Souness claimed: "Yeah common sense tells you he will do.
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"I mean at five foot nine and he's playing against guys who are six foot two he'll get pinned occasionally, he'll get out sprinted occasionally and he will get caught, that's my take on it."
Affectionately dubbed 'the butcher' by both Ajax and now United fans, Martinez has never let his height prevent him from imposing his presence onto opposition strikers - even if they are significantly bigger than him.
Just last Sunday the defender was tasked with keeping Hammers duo Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio quiet and did so with relative ease.
Martinez has already proven over the course of his career that what he lacks in height will not be a serious issue, his technical prowess more than makes up for it.
In contrast to Souness, Arsenal legend Ian Wright heaped praise on the 24-year-old, telling Premier League productions: "He’s got defensive quality that I haven’t seen at Manchester United for a while.
"Not only his positioning but he passes the ball through the lines. He’s exactly what they’ve needed."
