Wayne Rooney expects Lisandro Martinez to be a Manchester United success

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Wayne Rooney has told The Times he expects Lisandro Martinez to be a success in the Premier League.

Martinez has had a difficult start in his opening two matches as he adjusts to English football.

The new signing has come in for criticism, with pundits writing him off before he even kicked a ball due to his height at 5ft 9.

Rooney believes the Red Devils enacting an improved, possession heavy style of play is what will be crucial to Martinez’s success, and this will take time to implement under new boss Erik ten Hag.

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Rooney expects Lisandro Martinez to be a success

United record goalscorer Rooney said: “I think Martínez has the potential to be a success in the Premier League. He’s a good footballer, but what he needs is for his team to be dominating possession and playing high up the pitch, so he can use his reading of the game and footballing skills.

“If you put Martínez in the Manchester City team, there wouldn’t be any questions about him. Fernandinho thrived as a centre back for City at times and Javier Mascherano was brilliant there for Barcelona, and neither is very tall.

“It’s about being in a team with the right style of play and the quicker Ten Hag can impose his structure and style, the easier for Martínez it will become.”

United paid £46 million to sign Martinez from Ajax last month. The fee could rise with add-ons.

Martinez had a tricky start at Ajax too before proving himself. He told Ole.com “At first it was hard for me. I felt uncomfortable, I didn’t have a good time. Over time, with the work and support of the coach and my teammates, I began to get the hang of it.”

The defender was named Ajax’s player of the year last season, playing a key role in their Eredivisie success.

Rooney is right that United need to improve and become more functional as a whole for Martinez to get better, and the new signing of Casemiro will help the team. It will be a process, but the defender’s previous success under Ten Hag gives reason to be positive that he will come good.