South American Reds: A short history

The Argentina international completed his move from Ajax on Wednesday and is now set to join a growing list of Reds from the continent past and present!

So, off the back of Lisandro’s signing, we’ve had a look back at our history with South American representatives...

Martinez is set to become the eighth player in history to play for United’s men’s first team and represent Argentina at some level. 

Our new no.6 joins Alejandro Garnacho at the club, who made his debut for the nation in the youth ranks and for the Reds’ senior side earlier this year. 

Gabriel Heinze, a player that Martinez has cited as an inspiration since joining United, was the second Red to hail from the country after Juan Sebastian Veron.

Carlos Tevez, Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero have all flown the flag of Argentina at Old Trafford since the turn of the century too. 

In fact, when Martinez makes his competitive debut, which could be as soon as our Premier League opener on 7 August, there will be as many players from the country to have represented United’s men’s first-team as any other on the continent.

Brazil is currently the sole leader in that category on eight, with Argentina just one behind.

Fred and Alex Telles represent the nation in our current side, while Kleberson, Anderson, Rodrigo Possebon, the da Silva twins and the recently departed Andreas Pereira were Brazilians to wear the shirt in earlier years.

Three Uruguayans have made a first-team appearance for United – Diego Forlan, Guillermo Varela and Edinson Cavani – while that number could grow if youngster Facundo Pellistri gets his senior bow this season. 

Former Reds skipper Antonio Valencia is our only ever representative from Ecuador, as is Alexis Sanchez from Chile.

The same can be said for Radamel Falcao from Colombia, following his season-long loan in the 2014/15 campaign. 

Fittingly, Falcao could make his first return to Old Trafford since that season on Sunday, as his current club Rayo Vallecano come to town. Tickets are available here.

The game is one half of United’s double-header this weekend, with both matches set to be shown live in your United App.