Manchester United are planning to open talks with Lisandro Martinez over a new contract once the Argentina international returns from injury, Fabrizio Romano reveals.
An injury curse
Martinez, 27, arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 from Ajax with a good injury record. The centre-back missed just 14 games for club and country across three years in Amsterdam.
But across his three seasons with the Red Devils, he has missed 100 matches – and counting – due to an unrelenting list of injuries.
Martinez suffered a heart-breaking ACL injury in February – just as he was beginning to produce superb performances in Ruben Amorim’s system – and has spent the past seven months recovering after undergoing surgery.
He has previously fractured his metatarsal, which he subsequently reinjured, as well as experiencing issues with his calf and back.
This has led to the Argentine to miss most of the previous two seasons after such an impressive debut campaign at the Theatre of Dreams.
Martinez is currently training individually on grass to avoid contact as he edges closer to a return with the hope of re-joining the first team next month.
Once he has returned, however, Romano reveals United are planning to “accelerate” talks to extend his contract, which is set to expire in 2027.
New Deal
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano states contract renewals are the “focus” at Old Trafford now that the summer transfer window has shut – and Martinez is one of the key priorities.
“Contracts at Manchester United will now be an important part of the focus for United after this summer transfer window. One of the situations to follow from what I’m told is one of Lisandro Martinez,” the Italian transfer expert explains.
“He’s out with an injury but he will return as soon as possible, and my understanding is Man United want to discuss a new contract with Martinez. Martinez is out of contract in 2027 – Man United don’t want to arrive into late 2026 with the player not having his contract extended to avoid problems.
“They’re waiting on him to return and there’s no rush, no pressure but for sure Manchester United want to try as soon as possible. My feeling is as soon as Martinez [is] close to returning they will try to accelerate.”
There is an element of risk over extending the contract of a player with the devastating list of serious injuries Martinez has endured over the past three seasons.
But the Argentine is an important member of the dressing room at Old Trafford – he was named as a member of Amorim’s leadership group – and the team miss his ball-playing abilities in his absence.
His return will a welcome boost to his Portuguese head coach, as explained in greater detail here.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
