Premier League giants Manchester United have an interest in Arnau Martinez with the talented right-back impressing for Man City’s Spanish sister club Girona in La Liga.
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka likely to be offered a new, long-term deal at Old Trafford, a new right-back is well down Manchester United’s list of January priorities, a centre-half and a centre-forward more pressing matters.
But, still, this is a situation worth keeping an eye on.
HITC Sport understands that Man United continue to cast their sights over Jeremie Frimpong of Bayern Leverkusen and Inter Milan’s bullet train Dutchman Denzel Dumfries. Arnau Martinez is another on the Red Devils’ radar, the Spain Under 21 international part of the Girona side who have shoehorned themselves into the midst of a fiercely-contested La Liga title battle this season.
Manchester United like Arnau Martinez
Martinez, just 20 years of age, has been a regular in the Girona side since 2020/21, when the Catalan outfit were still a second-tier team. He continues to go from strength to strength at the Montilivi, scoring three goals and setting up four more from right-back last term.
“Arnau is only 19 years old but is very intelligent,” Girona boss Michel told Marca back in April after a teenage Martinez went toe-to-toe with Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.
Martinez spent six years in Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy between 2010 and 2016. He has been linked with a return to the Blaugrana recently, while Bayern Munich and Liverpool are also being credited with an interest.
The reported existence of a 20 million euro (£17 million) release clause in his Girona contract, meanwhile, means Martinez should be far more affordable than Frimpong and Dumfries if Man United opt to step up their pursuit of a new right-sided full-back.
Martinez, furthermore, could be two signings rolled into one. Competition for Wan-Bissaka, yes, but also an extra option in the centre too.
Versatile and talented
“I played centre-back all my life, except for when I played for my local club as a striker when I was a young kid.
“When I arrived at Barca, they put me in central defence. Then, when I arrived at Girona FC, I also started at centre-back in a three-man defence,” Martinez told AS recently.
“But when Michel joined, he moved me to full-back. Personally, I prefer the full-back position. You can get forward and play more in the other area, which is what everyone likes to do. Still, I have no issue playing at centre-back.”
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