Lisandro Martinez has found himself in the firing line after Manchester United let a win slip away against Tottenham. The Argentine defender's failure to effectively challenge Dominic Solanke in the build-up to a late equaliser cost his team dearly.
In the dying moments of the match, Martinez opted to engage Solanke instead of competing for the header, a critical decision that allowed the Tottenham forward to turn him and slot the ball home.
This goal meant Manchester United ended the game without a victory, in a match where they had played against ten men.
After the game, The Athletic's Adam Crafton was scathing in his assessment of Martinez’s performance.
He remarked:
He should have been sold after the World Cup.
The gap between his actual performances and his self-perception is vast.
For United, defensive issues have emerged as a systemic problem. The team has yet to keep a clean sheet in this Premier League season, winning only one out of six matches.
Against this backdrop, the club is already plotting a significant overhaul of their backline in 2027, with several new signings anticipated, including a left-back and centre-backs.
Martinez's contract is set to expire next summer, but Manchester United holds an option to extend for an additional year.
Earlier reports suggested that the club might exercise this option to maintain control over the situation and avoid losing the player for nothing.
However, if Martinez continues to struggle with form and consistency, a sale next summer could very well become a viable option.
