Man Utd rejected chance to sign Argentine gem in January as Lisandro Martinez replacement, Ruben Amorim and Ineos divided

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When Lisandro Martinez’s injury was confirmed, it left Manchester United without a natural left-sided defender.

Ruben Amorim has had a nightmare opening few months at Manchester United, with the injury crisis summing things up perfectly.

Arguably the biggest injury blow came in the form of Lisandro Martinez, with his season-ending injury leaving United short in the left-sided centre-back position.

Leny Yoro has been impressive on the left for United in the absence of Martinez and his services here will be required for the foreseeable.

Martinez has torn his anterior cruciate ligament which has a 10-month recovery time. Therefore, not only is Martinez’s season over but likely his year.

United will likely need a new left-footed centre-back this summer, but now it has emerged that Ineos was offered a possible solution in January.

• READ MORE: Who is Lisandro Martinez? Step inside the life of Manchester United’s tenacious Argentine

Manchester United were offered Valentin Gomez in January

Since taking charge of United, Ineos has shown a willingness to utilise the South American market. United have signed Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno in Paraguay

Meanwhile, Argentine talent Franco Mastantuono is regularly linked to United and now it seems the Red Devils were offered another young Argentine in January, as a replacement for Martinez.

This came according to the president of Velez Sarsfield, Fabian Berlanga, who revealed he attempted to sell Valentin Gomez to United following Martinez’s injury while speaking to La Noticia Web.

“It wasn’t a transfer, it was a termination. Once the player signs the payment commitment, he is free to do what he wants”, Berlanga explained. “Through someone I know, I asked Manchester United to find out if they wanted him because of Licha Martínez’s injury.

“It was divided between the CEO and the coach, and they said no.”

So if this is correct, Omar Berrada and Amorim disagreed over adding 21-year-old Gomez to the ranks.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Valentin Gomez would have been an interesting signing for Manchester United

Despite not being in his teenage years anymore, Gomez is a talent who has been tipped as having tremendous potential for years.

The Buenos Aires Herald has previously labelled the 21-year-old as being “one of the best and most promising young defenders in Argentine football”. This is a billing he deserves as stats reveal.

Valentin Gomez stats vs positional peers in Argentina 2024/25

Gomez ranks highly in the league for almost all the relevant statistics, and it is pretty easy to see why he is rated so highly in Velez and beyond.

That being said, it is doubtful he would be the solution to United’s problems and also uncertain if he has the needed ability to make the step up to Premier League football right now.

It would be intriguing to see who inside United was arguing for Gomez and who argued against.