Manchester United have signed Lisandro Martinez at the perfect time in his career

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Manchester United announced the signing of Lisandro Martinez on Wednesday, finally welcoming the defender to the club.

Martinez featured in a behind closed doors friendly match against Wrexham along with new signing Christian Eriksen.

United paid a sizeable sum to Ajax for the centre-back, an initial £46 million, and the new arrival will be keen to show he is good value for money.

One of many reasons United fans can be encouraged over a deal for the defender, along with his attitude, defensive style and passing ability, is that the club have struck at the perfect time in his career.

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United have signed Lisandro Martinez at the perfect time

One of the biggest complaints about some of United’s signings over the past decade has been signing players at the wrong end of their careers.

Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo were both stop-gaps, while Bastian Schweinsteiger was disastrously past his best.

On the other end of the scale, a move to United came too soon for Memphis Depay, while gambles on Amad and Facundo Pellistri were promising investments – but United needed proven quality.

In the case of Martinez, United have struck at the perfect time. The defender is 24-years-old, with his best years ahead of him.

He also has valuable experience already under his belt, racking up 179 appearances at club level. For context, that’s just seven fewer than Eric Bailly, who is four years older.

After helping Ajax to three first place finishes in a row, Martinez needed a new challenge. At Manchester United he has certainly got one.

Martinez feels the same way. He told United’s club website: “I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and, now that I’m here, I’m going to push myself even further.

“I had an unbelievable time there [at Ajax] but feel the moment is right to test myself in another environment. Now I am at the perfect club to do this.”

The timing of the 2022 World Cup may also have worked in United’s favour. While the fee United have paid is a big one, his reputation and price could have rocketed if he performs well at the tournament in Qatar with Argentina. United don’t have to worry about this now.

At a moment when United’s defence needed shaking up, and the team required a lift, Martinez can be a galvanising force, for his teammates and for the fanbase.

Martinez has joined United on a long-term deal, in which the club have an option to extend to 2028. If he is still a first team regular by then, the money paid to sign him will have been a solid investment.