Manchester United financial situation means they can no longer splash ungodly sums on big players but as Ayden Heaven has shown, it could be an opportunity in a crisis, which is where Juan Gimenez comes in.
It is an open secret that Man Utd await a blockbuster summer window where Ruben Amorim will oversee a large-scale rebuild.
There is space for proven quality but the limited budget means the club will have to be creative to fill the gaps in the squad.
In that vein, it was reported that Man Utd are close to signing Juan Gimenez, the 18-year-old centre-back from Argentina who plays for Rosario Central.
Here’s all you need to know about the player who could be an upgrade on Lisandro Martinez eventually-
Who is Juan Gimenez?
Juan Gimenez is a right-footed centre-back who has come through the ranks of Rosario Central in Argentina, a place famous for the emergence of a certain football player named Lionel Messi via Newell’s Old Boys.
Gimenez broke through into the senior team last season at the age of just 17, starting 15 games and playing 17, never looking out of place.
He’s continued his breakout in the 2024/25 season as his minutes have increased, with the player now among the most highly-rated prospects in Argentina.
When and where was Juan Gimenez born?
Like Messi, Juan Gimenez was born in Rosaria, although Rosaria Central didn’t let him get away from their grasp as they did with Messi, who joined Newell’s Old Boys.
He was born on April 27, 2006, so he will be 19 by the time he arrives at Old Trafford, if he does. He could be joined at the club by the likes of Diego Leon and Ian Subiabre in the summer as the young South American trio has been targeted by the club.
Juan Gimenez national team
Gimenez will aim to become a stalwart for the Argentina national team in the coming future, having already played 20 games for the U17s and six for the U20s since making his debut in June 2024.
He is still some way off of making his senior debut but considering the rate at which he’s progressing, a debut can’t be ruled out in the next 2-3 years.
Juan Gimenez position
Gimenez is the quintessential modern centre-back who plays on the right of a back two and can play as the right-sided centre-back in a back three.
His passing acumen also makes him a decent fit as a destroyer in defensive midfield but it would be the best use of his abilities if he started deeper as a centre-back. That’s where his long-term position lies.
Juan Gimenez style of play
Gimenez is a coach’s dream because he combines the best of physicality off the ball with mastery on it. He’s capable of breaking lines with his passing or carrying it forward himself but also relishes physical duels.
His recovery pace makes him an ideal player to play high up the pitch for a team that intends to squeeze the pitch and dominate possession, a la Ruben Amorim at Man Utd.
In many ways, he could eventually be an upgrade on Lisandro Martinez because he’s gifted with the only thing Martinez is not – height. Gimenez stands at 6’1″ right now.
Martinez is a world-class passer and carrier and he never shirks away from physicality, but his height is something he can’t control. If Gimenez reaches his ceiling, then he might be the complete centre-back as he’ll tick off the place one Martinez can’t.
Juan Gimenez transfer links and update
At the time of writing United have opened talks for Gimenez and are close to signing the player, with the intention of letting him spend the calendar year with Rosario.
That way, he’ll arrive at the club in January 2026, just in time as Martinez will be returning from his ligament rupture.
Gimenez is tracked by many clubs, however, so United will need to move like they did with Leon and seal the deal quickly so that they don’t get gazumped.
By January next year, he would probably be good enough to get some minutes for the first-team straight away like Ayden Heaven did this January.
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