What does Argentina think of Martinez?

But how is he received in his homeland? 

It won’t be surprising that just like us, Argentina absolutely love Licha, partly due to playing his role in their World Cup triumph last December. 

We sat down with Argentinian journalist Sofi Martinez, from ESPN, to better understand just how much Martinez means to those back home, and answering why United fans have long had a special bond with the South American nation...

You've been here at Carrington interviewing Licha, Sofi, what is he like and how is he viewed in Argentina?
“He is a hero. He is a world champion. So we love Licha. We love Licha because of his personality,  he is very strong but sensible, you know, both things. I think that Argentina loves Licha; where he is from, he is quite strong. That's why we love Licha."

I think we love his passion and commitment he has got in his game. Does that embody the Argentinian character as know how much you love football in the country?
"We love football - it is our biggest passion. We have been divided for many years but football and the national team is something that we are all in it together. It is so special. The spirit thing that we feel during the last World Cup was amazing."

We saw the way the fans reacted to Argentina going back for the Panama friendly game - the scenes were incredible. Are they still as happy as when they actually won it?
"I think people have been going crazy because of this World Cup. And I think that it is going to be like this for many years maybe. It is a real deep happiness that we had."

I hope we get it in England soon, as we've been saying, but going back to Licha, how closely do you follow Licha in Argentina, we know a lot of our games will be on TV?
“We are big fans of Manchester United because of Licha. I remember in my country, we know that Manchester United fans sing “Argentina, Argentina” because of Licha. So that is really important and nice for us. We appreciate what you did.”

We did it before for our Argentinian players like Gaby Heinze, Carlos Tevez, Juan Sebastian Veron. What about United’s connection with Argentina?
“It's a very good connection. You are a very important club in the world. In Argentina, you can see kids and people with the shirt, the Manchester United shirt. And that is because of history, because you are so important for the history of football. So I think that, for my country, who are so passionate about football, you are very important."

Is there a pride about what Licha has achieved over such a short space of time here and can that be felt even back home in South America?
“Yes, because we love that our players are playing in important tournaments and important clubs and we know that Licha is playing in one of the best clubs in the world and he is important for his team. So, I think Argentina is proud of him of what he is doing and what the people think about him. So, we love Licha because of what he is doing for our national team, but how he represents Argentina in the world is so important.”

We know what he is like on the pitch but do you get any sense of what he is like away from it?
“He is very sensitive. He is very sensible because he thinks about his grandfathers. He loves family, he is a very quiet guy and he loves important games. He has good mentality, a winning mentality. I think that is the way he lives for football.”

Is he very different - we often find aggressive players on the pitch are so different when we interview them and is that what you feel by speaking to him, that he has a different persona on the pitch?
“He was a lot different when he spoke to me. He is a very quiet guy. On the pitch, he is very aggressive because of his mentality. He knows he is there to win the game, you know, and he speaks a lot with the other players and he wants to attack always. But when I did the interview with him, I did it and he was crying because of the memory of the World Cup. Because of the feeling, because of the people, because of the emotional part. So, he has both [sides].”

He comes from the region of Entre Rios, and Gualeguay, does being a footballer and what has happened so quickly from him mean his past drives him for success?
“Yes, I think we are our family. Where we grow, that is what we are. We are our country, we are our grandfathers, our school. We are all that and he is an Argentinian guy and he loves his family. He knows that is very important for him and I think that maybe he feels that his colleagues are his family. So I think something about that is from when he was a kid.”

Finally, you get from Argentina, when we watch them in the World Cup or Copa America, that everyone appreciates how passionate they are about football. The fans all love it and I think that is why United have this connection, because our fans are so passionate about us. They can see the same passion in the stands in Argentina, long after the World Cup, they're still celebrating. So is this something that he has, that love for football, like you say?
“Yesterday, we watched the Manchester United game, we have been at Old Trafford. It is an amazing stadium and I could hear people shouting. I saw the flags of things that were there, we can tell you are very passionate. And that helps me remember my country, what happened with Boca and River. I think with other clubs, those that are more popular or less popular, they have a deep passion for football. So, I think that is here, that is here in Manchester United."