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FC Barcelona have reportedly identified Lisandro Martinez as an “ideal candidate” to upgrade their backline – and the Spanish giant are plotting to take advantage of Manchester United to agree a cut-price deal for the 28-year-old centre-back.
The Butcher
Martinez – affectionately nicknamed ‘El Carincero‘, the Butcher – is widely seen as one of Europe’s best ball-playing defenders, capable of making incisive passes which cut through the opposition press.
Pep Guardiola called him one of the “top five centre-backs in the world” after United beat their local rival in the final of the FA Cup in 2024, as the Argentina international marked Erling Haaland out of the game.
But it was Martinez’s abilities in possession which the Spanish manager said “made the difference” in the 2-1 win for the Red Devils – as he has in numerous other games since arriving from Ajax in 2022 for £57 million.
However, ‘The Butcher’ has endured a horrendous run on the sidelines during his time at Old Trafford, with a persistent metatarsal issue and two separate serious knee injuries causing him to miss 92 games for club and country over the last three years. Prior to joining United, he was absent for just 13 games across the same time frame in Amsterdam.
Recurrent injuries rarely improve for a player approaching the dreaded death knell of 30 – while repeated knee issues are a worry.
Furthermore, the 5’9 defender remains something of an anomaly in English football, where the increasingly physical nature of the Premier League threatens to leave him exposed. A remarkable combination of aggression and anticipation helps combat this, but a transition to size, speed and strength being paramount offers further long-term worry for the Argentine.
Martinez’s deal expires in 2027, though the club retains the right to trigger an automatic twelve-month extension. However, Barcelona are hoping to exploit this uncertainty in the summer, when the defender will technically be entering the final year of his contract.
Barcelona plot a raid
Spanish outlet Fichajes reveals LaLiga’s champions want to “add a left-footed defender” to Hansi Flick’s squad, with Martinez emerging as their first-choice target.
The report states United will be “obliged to negotiate” a deal should it be presented, due to the aforementioned contract situation. Barcelona believe this creates the “ideal opportunity” to acquire a World Cup-winning defender, whose skillset translates perfectly to Spanish football.
The Blaugrana are said to be hoping to drive a hard bargain “close to €30m” and plan to complete the signing after this summer’s World Cup if “negotiations progress as planned”.
Final Thoughts
From United’s perspective, the ability to extend Martinez’s contract gives the club a position of strength in negotiations over a player whose skillset is highly valued at Old Trafford.
Furthermore, the centre-back is considered an important part of the dressing room, having been a member of Ruben Amorim’s ‘leadership group’ prior to the Portuguese’s dismissal. He has never shown any inclination towards leaving, instead resembling something of an adopted son for the city of Manchester, with a young family growing up in the city.
The Red Devils are unlikely to entertain the exit of their centre-back, who reminded everyone of his abilities in the back-to-back victories over City and Arsenal this month. And were a €30m (£26m) bid to arrive, it would be rejected as quickly as Martinez pings the ball forward to launch a counter-attack.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
