Erik ten Hag has opened up on the telephone name with Lisandro Martinez which helped Manchester United hijack Arsenal’s transfer for the defender in the summertime.
Martinez, who performed a key function in Argentina’s triumph on the 2022 World Cup, adopted Ten Hag to United in July after finishing a £55million swap from Ajax.
His first few outings for the membership didn’t go to plan, with Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher insisting the 5ft 7in centre-back would by no means flourish as a part of a four-man defence within the Premier League after a 4-1 defeat away at Brentford.
Erik ten Hag (R) has revealed the decision with Lisandro Martinez (L) that introduced him to Man United
Martinez known as Ten Hag to elucidate he was on the verge of signing for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
But since these feedback, Martinez has left Carragher red-faced by discovering his ft in Manchester and producing quite a few excellent shows earlier than serving to Argentina turn out to be world champions.
He’s now one of many first names on Ten Hag’s workforce sheet at Outdated Trafford, which can come as an enormous frustration to Arsenal after they missed out on signing him final summer season.
Throughout an interview with Dutch soccer journal Voetbal Worldwide, Ten Hag revealed how Martinez known as him to elucidate that he was near becoming a member of Mikel Arteta’s facet, however would favor to affix him at United if the chance arose.
The Dutchman mentioned: ‘Whether or not I discovered it tough to get Martínez away from Ajax? I had such a very good time there, how we skilled the method collectively. From scratch we introduced Ajax again to the European prime. That mission has been so pricey to me.
Ten Hag says the Argentine advised him he would favor to go to United if the prospect was there
Martinez is then mentioned to have gotten in touch with Arteta to let him know he wouldn’t be becoming a member of
That freed him as much as full a £55million swap to Outdated Trafford and reunite with Ten Hag
‘However Martínez himself wished to go away Ajax anyway. If we hadn’t taken him, he would have gone to Arsenal.
‘They wished him anyway, he was prime precedence there. Licha known as me at one level: “Coach, pay attention, I am leaving Ajax anyway. I can signal with Arsenal, however if you would like me, I will Manchester United.”
‘Then I believed: I should not shoot myself and United within the foot both. He actually hadn’t stayed in Amsterdam, that was out of the query. Then we struck and all of it labored out.’
Arsenal have been the frontrunners to prise Martinez away from Ajax earlier than United entered the race, and after selecting to reunite with Ten Hag in Manchester the participant is claimed to have known as Arteta to tell him of his choice.
Journalist Ben Jacobs revealed on The Soccer Terrace that he received in touch with Arteta personally to let the Spaniard know he wouldn’t be heading to Arsenal, who as a substitute introduced William Saliba again into their first-team fold after a mortgage spell at Marseille.
Martinez overcame a tough begin at United and is now one among Ten Hag’s most trusted stars
He lately received his palms on the World Cup after serving to Argentina prevail out in Qatar
The Gunners have loved the stronger begin to the season, taking 37 factors from a potential 42 to guide Manchester Metropolis by 5 factors on the prime of the Premier League.
United, in the meantime, sit 11 factors behind them in fifth after profitable eight out of 14 this season.
Martinez began two video games and got here off the bench thrice in Argentina’s profitable run on the World Cup in Qatar.
Talking forward of United’s return to aggressive motion on Wednesday night time with the go to of Burnley, Scott McTominay revealed his team-mate’s response to his textual content following their victory.
‘I messaged Lisandro the opposite day and mentioned congratulations,’ mentioned McTominay. ‘He mentioned “we go for the subsequent one”. He’s simply gained a World Cup, in order that exhibits the mentality that’s within the group.’
