Lisandro Martinez has been Manchester United’s best defender this season. That’s one of the reasons why he has quickly become a fans’ favourite at Old Trafford.
The Argentina international is set to return to the line-up in Sunday’s Premier League clash against Leicester City. United had to play Barcelona without him on Thursday night, so it will be a big boost for Erik ten Hag’s side to have Martinez back.
Standing at just 5’9”, Martinez was predicted to be a flop in the Premier League by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who has since eaten his words.
Martinez’s defensive prowess has been the talk of the town for quite a while now, and he won himself a World Cup winners’ medal at the Qatar World Cup in December. In Argentina and Amsterdam via Argentina, Martinez is known as The Butcher.
In a recent interview, Martinez shed some light on the origin of his nickname and confessed he wasn’t exactly sure why he earned such a nickname — but we all have a pretty good idea why!
“I don’t even remember who gave me the nickname,” Martinez told the Mirror. “It must be because I’m aggressive in the way I play my game. I did once make a vacuum (a cut of Argentine beef) in my house, so in one way the nickname suits me! But the truth is that I do go to each challenge like it is going to be my last one.”
Martinez added how he has improved his style of play, especially as a ball-playing centre-back.
“Having said that, I have greatly improved the way I read the game and how to make decisions. I have also grown in the way I pass the ball. And I want to continue improving absolutely everything.
“There is no limit for me. But if I want to go higher, I have to work for it – and that will always be the reality.”
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