One of Manchester United’s £57 million signings has around eight months to save his Manchester United career, with Rúben Amorim doubting his long-term role at the club.
Manchester United will likely make major defensive changes next summer, regardless of who is managing the squad at the end of the current campaign.
Rúben Amorim is under serious pressure to produce results after a poor start to a 2025/26 season that sees the club sitting in 10th with just two wins in their opening six Premier League games.
But, regardless of the head coach’s future, United will be looking to add defensive reinforcements across the centre-back, right-back, and left-back positions amid various fitness problems and expiring contracts.
Recent reports suggest that Harry Maguire will not be offered a new deal once his current one expires in 2026, while there have been claims that the likes of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot could be moved on to make way for upgrades.
Martínez has seven months to save United career
While contract expiries and necessary improvements are two reasons United will look for defensive replacements, another is fitness concerns.
Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui, and Lisandro Martínez have all shown a tendency to recurring injuries in their careers, with this becoming a growing concern at Old Trafford.
According to The Mirror, Amorim is now starting to doubt the long-term future of Martínez despite his obvious talent and dressing-room presence, due to the significant number of long-term injuries the Argentina international has suffered at Old Trafford so far.
After signing with United from Ajax for a £57 million package in 2022, the 27-year-old has missed 90 games through injury for club and country.
Martínez is set to return to United’s first team at the end of October following his ACL injury earlier this year. Once he’s back in the squad, he then has seven months left of the season to change Amorim’s mind ahead of the 2026 summer transfer window.
Amidst doubts about United’s defender, the club are reportedly looking to sign Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, despite possible competition from Liverpool in the next summer window.
Martínez can give Amorim exactly what he’s missing
Martínez is a fairly unique centre-back profile. Despite standing at just 5’9″, the Argentinian has coped well with the physicality and height of Premier League attackers, and is simply brilliant with the ball at his feet.
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When fit, the 27-year-old has shown on so many occasions that he is fantastic at being able to turn and beat opposition pressure, and has a tremendous pass on his left foot, which was evident for Amad’s brilliant winning goal against Manchester City last season.
When Martínez returns, he will likely resume his place as United’s first-choice left centre-back, so he will undoubtedly be given the chance to turn Amorim’s head and get another solid opportunity to establish himself at Old Trafford.
He will be able to provide a very unique passing lane to the front three, and considering the speed of the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, could end up having a substantial influence on United’s attacking prowess, much like that of Joško Gvardiol under Pep Guardiola at City.
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