‘I can sign for Arsenal’- How Lisandro Martinez forced Man Utd to buy him

Robin Bairner

• 21 Dec 2022 20:26 GMT
• 3 min read

Lisandro Martinez forced Manchester United’s hand to complete a summer transfer, manager Erik ten Hag has revealed.

The Argentine defender has proven to be a fine addition to the Old Trafford club, despite concerns that his height would be an impediment to his success in the Premier League.

Martinez has played 21 matches for Man Utd since arriving from Ajax for €57 million, but his career could have taken a very different turn had he not had a fateful phone call with Ten Hag.

MORE: What Man Utd need in January transfer window

Arsenal were reportedly hot on the trail of the 24-year-old in the summer – and the Dutch manager has confirmed that the Gunners came within a whisker of adding the South American to their ranks.

Instead, Martinez’s words with Ten Hag convinced Man Utd to hijack the deal in what may yet prove to be one of their most pivotal transfers in recent years.

MORE: The five Man Utd players who could leave in January

Speaking to Voetbal International, Ten Hag revealed: “Lisandro Martínez called me up and said: ‘I will leave Ajax. I can sign for Arsenal but if you want me, I will go to Manchester United.’

“Did I find it difficult to take Martinez from Ajax? I had such a good time there, with how we experienced the process together. From nothing, we made Ajax a top European team again. The project was so dear to me.”

Nevertheless, this call appears to have been enough to provoke Man Utd into action.

Ten Hag on Antony transfer

Meanwhile, Ten Hag says that he felt there was little doubt that Antony would leave Ajax in the summer – despite the deal being done on 30 August, barely 48 hours before the transfer window shut.

Ten Hag said: “Antony? In January, Ajax already knew he would leave in the summer.”

The saga over the Brazil international was another that Manchester United struggled to get over the line as they constantly refused to meet the asking price of the Eredivisie champions for the player.

With time running out in the window, though, Man Utd ultimately buckled and paid €95 million for Antony, giving Ajax the highest up-front fee any club received for a player in 2022 and making the deal the biggest sale in Eredivisie history.