Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick 'had concerns over Lisandro Martinez height'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 15 August 2022

Solskjaer, Rangnick 'had concerns over Martinez height'

Former Manchester United managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick both overlooked Lisandro Martinez as a transfer target due to his height, according to a report.

Former Manchester United managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick reportedly both considered signing Lisandro Martinez during their time at the club but had concerns over the defender's height.

The Argentina international moved to Old Trafford earlier this summer, with the club believed to have paid Ajax in the region of £57m for his signature.

Martinez has started both of Man United's Premier League matches this season against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, but he was substituted at the interval of the clash with the Bees on Saturday, having struggled in the first half, which saw Thomas Frank's side score four times.

The centre-back is only 5ft 9in, and according to The Athletic, his height was a concern for both Solskjaer and Rangnick despite both managers being admirers of the South American.

The report claims that the scouting department at the time also believed that Martinez would be vulnerable from set pieces, which has proved to be the case in the early stages of his Man United career.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured in November 2021 © Reuters

The 24-year-old has partnered Harry Maguire in the middle of the defence thus far this season, but Raphael Varane's assured performance off the bench against Brentford could lead to the Frenchman coming into the side for the match with Liverpool on August 22.

"My qualities in the air is something we worked on. I'm obviously up against a smaller centre-back. It was a good game plan," Brentford striker Ivan Toney told reporters after his side's 4-0 win over Erik ten Hag's team.

"I was just trying to put my body about and get the better of him. To be fair to him, he was doing well. He was very aggressive for a centre-back. Sometimes he gets beat in the air but he was aggressive on the floor. I felt like it was 50-50.

"It's a compliment to me, him getting subbed off at half-time, whether it was because of me or if it was the style of play they wanted to go for."

Martinez made 120 appearances during his three seasons with Ajax, winning two Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup during a successful spell in Amsterdam.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on August 7, 2022 © Reuters

Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has said that it is not a surprise that strikers are already targeting Martinez due to his height.

"When I was facing a team, I'd choose a centre-back to target, maybe after looking down at him in the tunnel," Sutton wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"Wimbledon's Chris Perry, although he had a good spring, was 5ft 9in. I was 6ft 4in and scored against them in October 1997. There was a long ball, I beat Perry in the air, leaving him on his backside, and scored to secure a 1-0 win for Blackburn. Job done.

"It's natural, and that's why opponents have been targeting Manchester United's 5ft 9in centre back Lisandro Martinez. Brighton did it last weekend, abandoning their usual plan of playing out from the back to send long balls towards Martinez. Brentford saw that and targeted him, too, feeling it was a weak link they could expose.

"After seeing Martinez dominated individually, other strikers will be targeting him now. I know I would."

Man United will be bidding to bounce back from the successive defeats at the start of the Premier League season when they welcome Liverpool next Monday.