Lisandro Martinez earned rave reviews from football fans after sparing Argentina’s blushes at the World Cup. In the dying embers of the 2-1 win over Australia, the Manchester United defender produced a last-ditch block to avoid conceding a late equaliser.
That never-say-die defending is exactly what made Erik ten Hag persuade Old Trafford chiefs to bring him to United. Plenty of critics were quick to write off the 24-year-old when he arrived in Manchester, due to his 5ft 9in frame.
Suggestions that Martinez is too small to play in the Premier League have quickly been dispelled by his stellar start to the campaign. Partnering Raphael Varane in defence, the former Ajax man has kept club captain Harry Maguire out of the team.
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United fans were quick to hail their new defensive stalwart after his heroic block to deny Aziz Behich. Some plaudits - as they have done for most of the season - compared Martinez to former Old Trafford warrior Nemanja Vidic.
While Lionel Messi earned the post-match plaudits for another match-winning display, Martinez was labelled Argentina’s most pivotal asset besides the PSG superstar. A well-taken goal from the seven-time Ballon d’Or opened the scoring but the tackle to thwart Behich was equally as important.
Others simply thanked Ten Hag for bringing the Argentine to the Theatre of Dreams. In just 14 Premier League appearances, fans already believe they have found their long-term answer at centre-back.
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