Lisandro Martinez has made his feelings clear on one former Manchester United star after claiming the player has achieved “legend” status for his country.
The 26-year-old Manchester United defender has been widely hailed for his impact at Old Trafford after he was signed from Ajax in 2022.
Lisandro Martinez reunited with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag at United and the Argentine centre-back has become a linchpin figure in the backline.
The United star stuck up a formidable partnership with Raphael Varane in his debut season at Old Trafford and the pair impressed in the heart of defence.
However, Erik ten Hag was unable to rely on the defensive partnership between the pair in the 2023-24 season due to injuries to Martinez and Raphael Varane.
Martinez and Varane reunited in the heart of defence one final time for United and impressed with their performances against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Varane made his exit from Old Trafford this summer after lifting silverware in United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup final.
Martinez praises one former Man Utd star
Lisandro Martinez has been called up for international duty with Argentina this summer alongside Manchester United teammate Alejandro Garnacho.
Argentina will begin their Copa America title defence in the United States, with La Albiceleste winning the last edition of the tournament in 2021.
Martinez, who has been capped 16 times for his country, was part of the Argentina squad that won the Copa America title and the 2022 World Cup trophy.
Former United and Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria will be playing in his last major international tournament for Argentina.
Angel Di Maria, who spent one season at Old Trafford, announced in 2023 that he would retire from international duty after the 2024 Copa America.
The 36-year-old Argentine forward has been a key part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad and made his presence felt at the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup.
Di Maria scored the winner against host nation Brazil in the Copa America final and also found the back of the net against France in the World Cup final in Qatar.
Speaking on the former United player, Martinez said (via Infobae): “[…] There is no talk about that at all [Di Maria’s Argentina retirement].
“When you are, here you come and enjoy. We see Fide very happy and we stay with that. Needless to say, we will fight for it.
“We try to enjoy it second by second, in training and matches, because we know what kind of legend he [Di Maria] is.”
Why is Di Maria retiring from Argentina duty?
Angel Di Maria was a marquee signing for former United manager Louis van Gaal in 2014 after the Red Devils landed him for a British record fee at the time.
The former Real Madrid star, who cost United a £59.7m transfer fee, impressed during his start to life at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal.
But Di Maria struggled to settle in at the Premier League club and his spell was hit with injuries, with the World Cup winner leaving Old Trafford in 2015.
The former PSG attacker revealed that he told Argentina captain Lionel Messi he would retire from international duty when they played together at the Ligue 1 club.
“I will leave the Argentina national team after Copa America — it’s over for me,” he told Todo Pasa in 2023.
“I hugged Messi at PSG and told him: the only thing I’m grateful for is to have been able to play with you in a club, to be able to see you every day.”