Blow For Manchester United, Defender Leandro Martinez Must Be Absent Until 2024

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez (center) has been sidelined for three months due to surgery. (Twitter @ManUtd)

JAKARTA - A heavy blow for Manchester United (MU) who had to lose their mainstay defender Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine national team defender had to undergo foot surgery to cure the metatarsal injury he suffered.

Because he had to undergo surgery, Martinez had to rest until the end of this year. It is estimated that he will only be able to return to playing in 2024.

Martinez actually suffered an injury to his leg bone when competing in the Europa League against Sevilla last season. Due to his injury, Martinez was forced to end the competition early because he had to rest for two months.

He has indeed returned to play and appeared with MU in the 2023/2024 pre-season. Martinez has even been introduced to the competition. However, last Friday, September 29, the club said that Martinez's injury had recurred so he had to be sidelined again.

According to the Daily Mail quoted by 90Min, Martinez underwent surgery on Monday, October 2. After surgery, he underwent recovery for three months before returning to playing.

Martinez himself felt pain in his legs when MU lost 3-1 against Arsenal last September. He even took painkillers so he could still play against Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Ironically, in those two matches, MU lost.

After carrying out a medical examination, the club assessed that Martinez's leg had not fully healed. He had to undergo surgery to recover.

Manager Erik ten Hag expressed sympathy for Martinez. He admitted that the team had lost a mainstay player for quite a long period of time.

"This is sad and disappointing news. He is injured again. I sympathize with him," said Ten Hag.

"The team really misses him. As is known, many of our players are injured. So, I have to overcome this situation with the existing squad," he said.

This man from the Netherlands also praised Martinez as a player who has character. He is optimistic that Martinez will recover.

"He's a strong player. He will rise. I'm sure that's because he's a player with character. The competition is still long and he will be fit. I'm sure he will contribute and improve the quality of the team when he returns," said Ten Hag.

However, Martinez's absence remains a heavy blow for MU. The reason is, he and Raphael Varane are the Red Devils' mainstays at the heart of the defense.

Moreover, MU is struggling to improve its position in the English Premier League and Champions League. Finally, in the domestic competition, MU lost 0-1 to Crystal Palace, which resulted in the team's position still being stuck in the middle of the table.