Erik ten Hag ‘overruled Manchester United’s board and recruitment department to push through £55m Lisandro Martinez transfer after club’s scouts had recommended a move for Pau Torres instead’
- Erik ten Hag convinces Manchester United’s board to sign Lisandro Martinez
- The Argentine defender joins after a £55.3million fee was agreed with Ajax
- United’s recruitment team had recommended Villarreal’s Pau Torres instead
- There were initially concerns over Martinez’ lack of height and his slight frame
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag overruled the board at Manchester United to finalise the £55.3million deal for Lisandro Martinez from Ajax.
The club’s scouts had recommended a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres, who has long been a target for the club, but ten Hag persuaded the board to back his pursuit of his former player.
Martinez played under the Dutch manager at Ajax for two seasons, where he was deployed as a centre-back, left-back and centre-midfielder at time.
Erik ten Hag convinced the Manchester United board to sign Lisandro Martinez over Pau Torres
Whilst signing a central defender this window was not regarded as a priority, with Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof considered adequate cover in that position, Martinez becomes the Red Devils’ third signing of the summer.
Martinez cost the club around £55m after performance based add-ons
At just five foot nine, there were concerns over Martinez’ ability to compete in the Premier League, which is notorious for its physicality and has seen several leading players struggle to adapt to.
But ten Had reportedly expressed concerns with Torres’ lack of pace, which would likely see him struggle to play a high line, and would also leave him vulnerable in a probably pairing with club captain Maguire.
It is an early sign of what is to come in the transfer market for United fans, and many will be pleased to see the sway the Dutchman has in recruitment decisions as he looks to rebuild a club to its former glory.
United agreed a £46.8m fee with de Godenzonen, to be followed by £8.5m in performance and achievement based bonuses, and Martinez is set to sign a five-year deal worth £120,000-per-week.
Martinez will now wait for his new team-mates to…