Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said that Lisandro Martinez has to accept the Red Devils’ 22/23 Premier League campaign to resume on December 27.
Lisandro Martínez is yet to return to training with Manchester United, and the centre-back is now in Argentina celebrating their 2022 FIFA World Cup title. He was part of the Argentina national soccer team that became the Cup-winning Qatar World Cup 2022.
Lisandro Martínez participated in five of Argentina’s seven games at Qatar 2022: he started two games and came off the bench in three games. He is expected to be unavailable for Manchester United when he faces Nottingham Forest in their first Premier League break after the winter.
Manchester United faced Burnley in the EFL Cup round of 16 earlier this week, and the Red Devils were without Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez or Raphael Varane. It was Casemiro, who mainly plies his trade as a defensive midfielder, who started at center back alongside Victor Lindelof.
Erik ten Hag sends a message to Lisandro Martinez about his return to Man Utd after the World Cup celebrations
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Speaking ahead of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, Erik ten Hag said Lisandro Martinez has to accept that his Premier League campaign resumes on December 27.
“He is [Martinez] still celebrating in Argentina”, said Erik ten Hag. “I can understand that it is very emotional. Winning the World Cup for your country is the highest you can be.
“But Martínez also has to accept that the Premier League will return on the 27th [for United].”
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martínez joined Manchester United in the summer transfer window, with the Old Trafford outfit signing the Argentine centre-back from Ajax. Since then, he has established himself as a regular starter for the Premier League club.
Lisandro Martínez has appeared in 21 games in all competitions for Manchester United so far in the 22/23 season. Of those, 14 appearances were in the Premier League, where he has started every game the Red Devils have played so far in the 22/23 season.
He has also appeared in all six of Manchester United’s 22/23 Europa League group stage matches. He started five of them and came off the bench in one game. The 24-year-old also made a cameo appearance from the bench in Man Utd’s 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup third round.
