Lisandro Martinez Biography: Lisandro Martinez is a talented and versatile Argentine footballer who plays for Manchester United and the Argentina national team. He is popular for his technical abilities, and he is also very good when it comes to game reading.
Lisandro Martinez was born in Argentina on January 18, 1998, and started playing football at a young age. He played for the youth academy of Club Urquiza in Argentina before joining Ajax Amsterdam in 2019. In 2022, he made the move to Manchester United, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world. His rise to the top of European football has been impressive and shows no sign of slowing down. He is a hardworking player who has achieved his dreams through dedication and hard work.
The Argentine has the ability to play in different positions on the field. Since joining Manchester United, he has become a key player, and his importance to both club and country cannot be overstated.
Martinez grew up in a family that loved football, and he started playing football at a young age. He joined the Youth Academy Club of Urquiza, where he began the lessons that would make him a successful defender. As a child, he was given the nickname “Licha” or “Butcher” because of his hard-working, aggressive playing style.
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Football Career
Martinez began his professional career by playing for three different clubs: Club Urquiza, Club Libertad, and Newell’s Old Boys. He made his professional debut with Newell’s in the final game of the 2016–17 season. He then joined Defensa y Justicia on loan in 2017, where he scored his first senior goal in a match against Temperley. His performances soon attracted the attention of other teams, and it was clear that he had a bright future ahead of him.
Ajax
In May 2019, Dutch club Ajax announced that they had reached an agreement with Defensa y Justicia to sign Lisandro Martinez, pending a medical. It wasn’t surprising because he was in very great form; some top European teams were really interested in him, but Martinez felt Ajax would give him the best platform to play. Ajax paid €7 million for the transfer, and Martinez officially joined the club in July 2019.
He played in friendlies with Ajax in June before officially becoming a member of the squad. Martinez’s first competitive game for Ajax was the 2019 Johan Cruijff Shield against PSV Eindhoven, in which Ajax won the game.
In his second Eredivisie match, he was named man of the match in a win over FC Emmen. It was a promising start to his time at the club. At Ajax, Martinez quickly established himself as a key player, helping the team win two Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup. He was also named Ajax Player of the Year for the 2021–22 season.
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Manchester United
In July 2022, Manchester United reached an agreement to sign Martinez from Ajax for a transfer fee of between £47 million and £49 million, plus an additional £8.5 million in add-ons. It was a significant transfer for both clubs, and Martinez was expected to be a key player for Manchester United.
Martinez’s transfer to Manchester United was officially completed on July 27, 2022, when he signed a five-year contract with the club. He made his debut for United against Liverpool on August 22, 2022. On January 22, 2023, Martinez scored his first goal for United in a 3-2 loss against Arsenal.
In the months leading up to this, Manchester United had beaten out a number of other clubs to sign Martinez from Ajax. These included Premier League clubs Arsenal and Newcastle United, as well as Italian side Inter Milan.
On April 13, 2023, Martinez suffered a foot injury while playing for Manchester United in the Europa League quarterfinal against Sevilla. He fractured his right foot’s fifth metatarsal bone and would miss the rest of the season.
It was a big blow for both Martinez and the club, as he had been a key player for them.
Following his injury, Martinez was unable to play for the remainder of the season. This meant that he missed out on key matches for Manchester United, including the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinal against Sevilla, the semifinals, and the final if United had qualified.
It was a significant setback for both him and the club. As a result of his injury, Martinez’s season came to an abrupt and disappointing end.
Martinez was a real asset to the team and played a big part in obvious defensive improvement throughout the 2022–2023 season; he won his first trophy since he joined Manchester United, the EFL Cup.
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National Team
Martinez has represented Argentina at various levels of international competition. He played for the under-20 team at the 2017 South American Youth Championship and helped them qualify for the U-20 World Cup. He was also called up to the Argentina under-23 team for a friendly against Bolivia.
Martinez was first called up to the senior national team in March 2019 and made his debut against Venezuela. He was part of the squad that won the 2021 Copa América, making one appearance in the tournament.
Martinez was part of the Argentina team that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He played in the quarter-final match against the Netherlands, the semi-final match against Croatia, and was an unused substitute in the final against France. He was a key part of the team’s success, both on and off the pitch. His journey from his early days with Newell’s Old Boys to becoming a world champion has been an incredible one.
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Awards and Achievements
- Eredivisie: 2020-21, 2021-22 (Ajax)
- KNVB Cup: 2020-21 (Ajax)
- Ajax Player of the Year: 2021-22
- EFL Cup (2021)
- Copa América: 2021 (Argentina)
- Finalissima: 2022 (Argentina)
- FIFA World Cup: 2022 (Argentina)
Family
Martinez is married to Agustina Casanova, and the couple has a son together.
Net Worth
His net worth is estimated to be around €20 million.
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Lisandro Martinez biography (FAQs)
What position does Lisandro Martínez play? Lisandro Martínez primarily plays as a center-back, but he is versatile enough to operate as a defensive midfielder if needed.
When did Lisandro Martínez join Ajax? Martínez joined Ajax in July 2019 from Defensa y Justicia in Argentina.
What are Lisandro Martínez’s notable strengths? Martínez is known for his strong defensive skills, including one-on-one defending, aerial duels, and reading the game. He is also proficient in ball distribution from the back.
Has Lisandro Martínez represented Argentina internationally? As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Martínez had earned caps for the Argentina national team. Please check the latest sources for updates on his international career.
What honors has Lisandro Martínez won with Ajax? Martínez has won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup with Ajax during the 2019-2020 season.