Lisandro Martinez: 'Erik ten Hag has played key role in my development'

Lisandro Martinez has detailed the importance of Erik ten Hag to his development, with the centre-back delighted to have reunited with the new Manchester United head coach at Old Trafford.

On Wednesday, the Red Devils confirmed that they had completed the signing of the Argentina international from Ajax, with the defender penning a contract until June 2027, with the option of a further year.

Martinez has reunited with his former Ajax manager Ten Hag, and the 24-year-old has explained the importance of the Dutchman to his recent development.

"I was with him three years at Ajax and I know his style of playing," Martinez told MUTV. "With him, I improved a lot, to be honest. He's here in Manchester now, so again the opportunity was there and for sure he's very important in my [career].

"[He's] very intense, for sure. Good football. Winning mentality, you know? That's the most important [thing]. Every player needs to have things clear. I think he's very clear also. So I think, with him, every day you can learn and then, in the game, you can understand also fully – tactics and everything.

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"How did he help me to improve? In how we can understand fully the situations, the decisions inside the pitch. He's there in every detail.

"I did 120 games in Ajax and I learn a lot, for sure. When I was in Ajax, my first year was when I was 21 years old, and now I'm 24. So yeah, I learned a lot. Now I feel [I play] with more experience, you know?

"I really like to help my teammates, but every player – I want the best for everybody. If everybody is fit and everybody is good, then we can win, you know?

"Because we can win with 11 players if everyone is good, it will help with each other. This is one of my first points. Then, I'm really aggressive, I love to win, you know? It's all about winning. I'm a good friend, also!"

Martinez was an important player for Ajax last season, scoring once and providing four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, while he played 120 times for the Dutch side after arriving from Defensa y Justicia in 2019, winning back-to-back league titles and the KNVB Cup.

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Ten Hag recently called Martinez "a warrior" when he was asked what type of player the club were signing.

"He's a warrior and I think the fans will admire him. He has an attitude, fighting spirit. He brings aggressiveness in the game, in a good way. I think we need that. But also, he's also skilful and he can deal with the ball and he's left-footed," Ten Hag told MUTV.

"I think the Premier League is high intensity, lots of challenges. We need such players. I know from South Americans... I call it grinta. Controlled, aggressive. You need that in your game and with him we have such a player."

Martinez made his unofficial debut for the 20-time English champions in Wednesday's behind-closed-doors friendly with Wrexham, which finished 4-1 to the Red Devils.

The South American is expected to be involved in either Saturday's friendly with Atletico Madrid in Norway or Sunday's friendly with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford.