Lisandro Martinez’s brutal Messi-inspired nickname for Weghorst revealed

Robin Bairner

• 10 Feb 2023 07:49 CST
• 3 min read

Wout Weghorst arrived at Manchester United in the January transfer window and has already picked up a brutal nickname from new club-mate Lisandro Martinez.

Weghorst’s loan to United came as one of the surprise deals of the winter window as the Red Devils sought to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. Rather than go for a big-name addition, they dipped into the loan market to seize Weghorst, who had been playing with Besiktas on loan from Burnley.

The 30-year-old Netherlands international has made a modest start at Old Trafford. He has played seven matches, totalling 498 minutes, and has just a single goal to his name. He is still waiting on his first Premier League strike, having played four matches.

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What is Wout Weghorst’s nickname?

Lisandro, though, is showing him little sympathy.

The former Ajax defender has nicknamed the player ‘Bobo’, ‘idiot’ in Argentine slang, falling his on-field clash with Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup.

Argentina advanced through that match on a penalty shootout as they went on to win the competition, but the Netherlands encounter proved a spikey battle that saw tensions run high on both sides.

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In the tunnel after the match, Messi said: “’Que miras bobo. Anda palla,’ which translates as: ‘What are you looking at, idiot? Get away.’”

Lisandro has apparently taken that rant to heart and has used Messi’s words as a term of apparent affection for Weghorst, according to Sport.

In the fallout of the match, Weghorst told De Telegraaf: “I always give everything and I did the same in the quarter-final. I fought against Messi and there were a few moments between us.

“I think he didn’t like it and that it surprised him. But I have a lot of respect for him. He is among the greatest of all time.

“I wanted to show my respect for Messi after the game, but he didn’t want it.

“I think he was still angry with me. Oh well, I see it as a great compliment that he knows my name now. Then at least I did something right.”

Weghorst’s exploits in Qatar, it appears, have won him a new name at Man Utd at least.