Lisandro Martinez named best Premier League centre-back as Man Utd question answered
Rio Ferdinand has described Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez as the Premier League’s most in-form central defender.
The Argentine international, who helped his country win the World Cup in December, has been a standout since his summer transfer from Ajax to Old Trafford.
He has supplanted club captain Harry Maguire and formed a formidable partnership with Raphael Varane.
Martinez was paired with Victor Lindelof in Manchester United’s three-goal EFL Cup semi-final first leg win at Nottingham Forest, and the Argentine claimed after the game that the Swedish international suited him stylistically as a defensive partner.
The Old Trafford faithful frequently chanted “Argentina! Argentina!” in response to the versatile defender’s performances, demonstrating their admiration.
Martinez has established himself as the leader of Erik ten Hag’s revamped defense.
Despite fierce competition for central defensive starting positions at the club from Varane, Maguire, and Lindelof, the Argentine has been one of the first names on the teamsheet throughout the entire season, with a string of impressive performances justifying his inclusion.
Ferdinand has now praised his form, praising his performances throughout the season and adding that his level of play meant United’s recruitment team also deserved praise for his signing from Ajax.
Ferdinand explained on FIVE when asked if the Argentine was the best central defender in the league: “On form right now, I don’t think there’s really much argument coming from anywhere else. I think he’s dominant, he’s aggressive, he’s a leader, he communicates well, he shows character, he’s there in big moments.
“But I was one of the ones questioning, ‘Is he physically gonna be able to compete here if teams isolate him, if teams isolate him?’. And that’s where Erik ten Hag has been confident in tactically being able to keep teams away from being able to dominate enough possession to isolate someone like Martinez.”
The former United defender continued: “And, up till now, he hasn’t been exposed in that sense. On a regular basis, week after week, are we not sitting there going, ‘That’s a recurring problem, there. It continues to happen, someone’s pulling out on him and jumping over him or bullying him physically’. We haven’t seen that, that hasn’t become the narrative, and you have to say well done to him but also well done to the recruitment up to now.”
Lisandro Martinez named best Premier League centre-back as Man Utd question answered
