Lisandro Martinez has been a revelation in defence for Manchester United this season and seems to get better every week.
Jamie Carragher’s comments to Sky Sports early in the season that Martinez was ‘too small to play in the Premier League’ look increasingly embarrassing.
Martinez was voted man of the match by United fans after the weekend win over Crystal Palace.
The defender nicknamed The Butcher has become a cult hero at Old Trafford thanks to his all-action performances.
Rio Ferdinand verdict
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was asked on his Five YouTube channel whether Lisandro Martinez is now the best player in the Premier League.
He responded: “On form right now I don’t think there is much argument 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.”
Ferdinand added that Erik ten Hag deserves some credit also for ensuring Martinez is never isolated to a situation where opponents can try to overload him, early in the season when there was attention on him.
In recent months Martinez has really proved himself and strikers will be wary of taking him on.
Ferdinand added: “You have to say well done to him and the recruitment up to this point.”
United paid a fee which was generally regarded at the time as high, with The Guardian reporting it begins at £46 million plus add-ons.
Right now the figure looks like a bargain. If you had told United they could sign the league’s best centre-back for less than £50 million, they would have snapped your hand off.
Martinez is certainly right up there. Virgil van Dijk is having a very average season by his standards, and Ruben Dias’ campaign has been restricted by injury.
For any defender who wants to be considered the best, matching Martinez is now the barometer, and only teammate Raphael Varane comes close right now.
SOURCE: unitedinfocus.com
