Barcelona weigh move for Lisandro Martinez as Manchester United defender faces fierce criticism

Barcelona are considering a move for Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez during the January transfer window, with the Argentina international’s position at Old Trafford increasingly uncertain.

Manchester United are 17th in the Premier League after nine rounds, having recorded one win and four draws in what has been described as a disastrous season.

That difficult campaign could create an opportunity for Barcelona, who have reopened the possibility of signing a centre-back after a series of injuries in their defensive line.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have not ruled out recruiting a defender in January. If the decision were based solely on sporting preference, their leading targets would be Manchester City’s Croatia international Josko Gvardiol, 24, or Inter Milan’s Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni, 26. However, both players are considered difficult options.

Martinez, 28, appears to be a more attainable possibility. The defender’s situation at Manchester United has deteriorated sharply, with indications in both England and the Netherlands that he could leave during the winter window.

Once widely praised for his quality in possession, Martinez has come under heavy criticism in England in recent days. His dismissal against Chelsea has intensified the scrutiny after he committed an unusual foul on Wesley Fofana during a corner, an incident that also led to a penalty.

Cole Palmer converted the spot-kick to score the winning goal, and the episode has been viewed by analysts and supporters as a decisive moment in the discussions about Martinez’s future.

His contract expires at the end of the current season, adding to speculation that his departure could be imminent. Martinez made his name in the Netherlands with Ajax before joining Manchester United from the club for 67m euros in the summer of 2022.

‘Worst player in the Premier League’

The Guardian labelled Martinez “the worst player in the Premier League” in an assessment of his current form.

“He got himself sent off for playing the tough guy, after conceding the penalty from which Cole Palmer scored the winning goal,” the newspaper said. “It symbolises the decline of Manchester United under the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.”

It added: “Martinez has been highly critical of his owners recently, but this is a player who should have been sold long ago.”

The Athletic also described him as “the worst player in the Premier League this season”, claiming he had been primarily responsible for points lost by Manchester United in three matches.

“His decline is a baffling mystery,” it said. “This cannot continue. Manchester United cannot rely on a player who repeatedly costs them points with errors that appear to mean nothing to him.”

The Telegraph said it was “not surprising” that manager Michael Carrick did not look at Martinez as he left the pitch, adding that the defender was “artificially provocative: strong in front of the microphone, weak on the pitch”.

The Manchester Evening News noted that passing had previously been one of Martinez’s strengths, but called the foul that led to his red card and the penalty “ridiculous”.

Martinez has played 10 matches this season, totalling 763 minutes, suggesting Carrick has continued to select him.

Barcelona sporting director Deco is monitoring developments closely, Sport reports. The club have several alternatives, but none are currently financially accessible, making Martinez a potential opportunity in the market.