Lisandro Martinez opens up on injury hell, being emotionally wrecked and whether he is now a ‘better player’

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Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez has experienced a difficult 18 months due to injuries.

When he looks back, Lisandro Martinez may accept ‘it was all worth it’. Four different lay-offs with injuries between April 2023 and May 2024 ended with a double trophy-lift.

Martinez returned in time to start the FA Cup Final for Manchester United, and throughout the Copa America as Argentina won the tournament.

Now after linking back up with Argentina for the international break, Martinez has been reflecting on his injury problems

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Lisandro Martinez injury hell

Lisandro Martinez first suffered a broken metatarsal against Sevilla in April 2023, which caused him to miss the FA Cup Final that year.

He returned to action at the start of last season, before suffering an injury against Arsenal which required an operation.

Martinez came back at the beginning of 2024, then a MCL injury against West Ham saw him miss several weeks. He then suffered a calf injury in training after making a return against Brentford, before eventually coming back just in time for the final at Wembley.

Speaking to Argentine newspaper La Nacion, Martinez said: “I am very grateful for what happened to me.

“Look what I tell you… It is hard to repeatedly go through injuries because injuries destroy your head, they fill you with fear, with mistrust.

“Emotionally everything is negative after the injuries: you become insecure, you stop believing in yourself, you don’t even walk well, you don’t know what will happen to you…”

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Martinez now ‘better player’

Spinning forward, Martinez says he was able to snap himself out of his negative thinking, and claims he is now a better player.

Martinez said: “There is the internal work to know how to cope and, always, take the positive.

“I am one of those who think that things happen for a reason, always. Always. The injuries have improved me a lot, they made me a better person and a better player, a better professional.

“After everything I went through, today I feel very calm, very emotionally balanced. I felt that it was a goal that at some point I had to accomplish.”

Martinez has played three games to start the season, which have been mixed for United. He is now set to feature for Argentina in their World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

United still have to handle his fitness cautiously, and there will be rotation with Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire both available, plus Jonny Evans.