Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following a severe knee injury.
The 27-year-old Argentine centre-back suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the latter stages of United’s recent Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
The 2024-25 is nothing less than a nightmare for the Manchester United fans after their recent 0-2 defeat against Crystal Palace. It addition to that was an incident around the 77th minute of the game, when Lisandro Martinez was injured in the process of a tackle against a Crystal Palace forward. The defender was in tears as he was taken off the field on a stretcher and the fans gave him a compassionate round of applause.
This injury comes in as a huge blow for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United struggle to find their feet in the Premier League. On that note, let’s look below and find out the latest update on the injury of Lisandro Martinez, its impact on Manchester United, his possible replacements, and also the expected return date.
Lisandro Martinez Injury Update
Martinez sustained the injury while he stretched to make a challenge on Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr in the 76th minute. The teammates looked upon him with concern as he was suffering from pain and received care for a long time on the side lines. Speaking after the game Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim expressed his concern as he believed that the injury could be a serious one keeping the Argentine out for a lengthy period.
“We are going to see in the next days but I think it is a serious situation,” said Amorim. “He felt it and when you are a player, you know when it is something serious. We are here to help him in this difficult moment, like he has helped us,” he added.
Amorim will be hoping that Martinez’s latest injury is not as serious as initially feared because the team’s performance has not been that good in the premier league as they linger at the 13th spot with 29 points from 24 games. This will not be Martinez’s first big injury as in his first season at Old Trafford, the Argentine spent months off the pitch with a broken metatarsal.
Impact of Lisandro Martinez Injury on the Manchester United Squad and Strategy
The difficult part of the season for Manchester United is coming up as they are set to face Leicester in the FA Cup next weekend and then visit Tottenham and Everton. Martinez would have been an important factor in the games coming as Amorim mentioned that the defender is not just a great player but a strong character in the dressing room and quite crucial for the team’s morale. He has been one of the most important centre-backs in the team starting in 20 matches in the premier league this season.
After his injury, he will be force Amorim to move into a back four rather than a back three due to unavailability of quality centre-backs in the side. His absence will be crucial as on the ball he had been great and to replace him will be a difficult task. Martinez’s career has been blighted with injuries. He has suffered with constant injury issues following his 2022 move to Old Trafford with a total of 56 games missed across two and a half season but his latest injury could be his longest.
Why is Lisandro MartĂnez’s Injury a Major Blow for Argentina?
Lisandro MartĂnez’s long-term injury is not only a setback for Manchester United but also a significant concern for Argentina. The center-back has been a crucial part of Argentina’s squad in recent years, and his prolonged absence puts La Albiceleste in a challenging position. MartĂnez has played a key role in Argentina’s recent success, contributing to their Copa AmĂ©rica victories and World Cup triumph.
Although Argentina has other center-backs, MartĂnez was a vital member of the team. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately seven to nine months, meaning he will miss Argentina’s next six World Cup 2026 qualifiers. These include matches against Uruguay (away) and Brazil (home) in March, followed by four additional qualifiers in June and September. Missing these key fixtures could be a setback for the reigning World Cup champions as they aim to secure qualification for the 2026 tournament.
Possible Replacements and Tactical Adjustments
The injury blow of Lisandro Martinez will be difficult for Ruben Amorim to replace as the quality and aggressiveness he brings in is not there in any player in the current squad. During the game Matthijs de Ligt came on to replace the injured and he will be an option for the games coming up. He will be a natural replacement alongside Harry Maguire and Lenny Yoro. Other than these three they have zero replacements available on the bench as Jonny Evans is also side lined with a physical discomfort. They also might rely on their new signing Ayden Heaven from Arsenal. It will be interesting how Amorim designs his playing eleven for the upcoming game.
Due to Lisandro MartĂnez’s injury, Manchester United have strengthened their defense by signing two players before the January transfer window closes. The Premier League club has brought in Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu and Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven.
When asked about any new signings, Amorim said, “We are trying everything to improve the team, without doing mistakes of the past, trying to balance the urgency of the moment.”
Lisandro Martinez Return Date
As test results are not out yet, the return date for Lisandro Martinez is not known yet. An ACL injury takes a minimum of 9months to recover after surge, we can expect not seeing Martinez for at least a year on field. As per the manager, the injury could be a serious one therefore keeping him away from the pitch for a long time.
Also Read: Liverpool Injury Update: Trent Alexander Arnold latest details, recovery timeline
FAQs
Q. What type of injury does Lisandro Martinez have?
A. It is not clear about what injury Lisandro Martinez has. Some media reports claim that he has suffered a knee injury.
Q. When did Lisandro Martinez get injured?
A. Martinez sustained the injury while he stretched to make a challenge on Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr in the 76th minute. The teammates looked upon him with concern as he was suffering from pain and received care for a long time on the sidelines.
Q. What is the expected recovery timeline for Lisandro Martinez?
A. As test results are not out yet, the return date for Lisandro Martinez is not known yet. As per the manager, the injury could be a serious one therefore keeping him away from the pitch for a long time.
Q. Who are the potential replacements for Lisandro Martinez?
A. Matthijs de Ligt would be a natural replacement for Licha in the central defence and also new signing Ayden Heaven could also be an option.
Q. Has Lisandro Martinez suffered similar injuries in the past?
A. Yes, He has suffered with constant injury issues following his 2022 move to Old Trafford with a total of 56 games missed across two and a half season but his latest injury could be his longest.