Ten Hag praises Martinez's 'fighting spirit'
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Lisandro Martinez is ‘a warrior’ who will be admired by Manchester United’s supporters, according to Erik ten Hag.
The club announced on Sunday that a transfer had been agreed with Ajax for the 24-year-old Argentina defender.
Martinez will be reunited with his former boss from the Eredivisie soon, with the move still being subject to a medical, player terms being finalised, and to UK visa requirements.
“He’s a warrior and I think the fans will admire him. He has an attitude, fighting spirit,” Ten Hag told us.
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“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.”
The boss feels Martinez has the right character to adjust to Premier League football and that there are advantages when it comes to being used to his methods, from their time together in the Eredivisie.
“I think it’s important, yeah. I think the Premier League is high intensity, lots of challenges. We need such players [with fighting spirit],” he added.
“Certain ideas, he knows them. That is an advantage, clearly.
“But also he has to adapt, to a new country, a new club, new team-mates. So also a lot of things will be different.”
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Ten Hag also confirmed that neither Martinez or Christian Eriksen, who joined the club as a free agent on a three-year-deal last Friday, would take part in the club’s pre-season tour in Australia.
“Unfortunately we cannot have them here in the tour, because at the moment they arrive here we will fly back. So that doesn’t make sense.
“We cannot wait to involve them in our squad and the fans also cannot wait.
“Every year it’s the same as a trainer: you want your squad complete as soon as possible. But also fans look forward to new players and what is the squad and what they can contribute and they want an identification.”