Who is Lisandro Martinez? The 'Butcher of Amsterdam' joining Man Utd
Daniel Edwards
- Updated: 27 Jul 2022 08:34 CDT
- 3 min read
Lisandro Martinez is in many ways the epitome of the modern defender.
The new Manchester United star is happy playing either in the middle of the backline or on the left, while he can also fill in at a pinch further up anchoring the midfield. His distribution is second to none, making him a valuable outlet for the Dutch side as they transition out from their own half.
But Martinez is also not afraid to mix in some of the rough stuff, leading to his team-mates dubbing him 'The Butcher of Amsterdam' - a nickname he admits to having mixed feelings about.
"I have given out my share of kicks and picked up that nickname," he laughed in an interview with TyC Sports at the start of 2022.
"But I'm not one to go flying in, I like to play more. But every ball is a matter of life or death."
It is both sides of that character, the cultured defender and the warrior, which caught the eye of Man Utd, who have completed the €55 million signing of the Ajax centre-back.
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Martinez's Amsterdam explosion
Martinez, 24, was something of an unknown quantity when he first moved to Ajax.
A graduate of the Newell's Old Boys academy in Rosario, the defender made just one appearance for his boyhood club before being let out on an initial loan deal to Defensa y Justicia for the 2017-18 season.
Martinez went on to record two solid campaigns for Defensa, enough to convince Ajax of his talents and offer him a four-year deal in the summer of 2019.
Despite his low profile, the Argentine wasted no time in establishing himself as a first-teamer for the Dutch giants, playing alongside compatriot Nicolas Tagliafico in the club's backline and racked up over 100 appearances.
As Martinez admits, though, it was not all smooth sailing.
"My first three weeks here were awful," he told La Nacion. "It is completely different. A different intensity, different control, different kinds of passes and reading of the game.
"At first I wanted to run home crying. I felt horrible. I am a player who likes to have the ball but when I had to play on one or two quick touches I got killed. It was amazing how late I used to get there."
Thankfully for Martinez and Ajax, those early woes soon dissipated, and now the defender is rated as one of the best young prospects in his position playing anywhere in Europe.
Martinez is on the short side for a centre-back, at just 1.75m, but he makes up for that lack of height with a stunning awareness of the game and sense of positioning and with his swift feet.
He looks set to have a glittering future both at club level and with his country, with a place in Lionel Scaloni's World Cup squad almost assured.
