I’m very happy He is Here with us and I can’t wait for me to work with him because He is the kind of player that I respect alot”, Lisandro Martinez makes feelings clear on new Man United signing
I’m very happy He is Here with us and I can’t wait for me to work with him because He is the kind of player that I respect alot”, Lisandro Martinez makes feelings clear on new Man United signing
Lisandro Martinez says he “can’t wait” to play with Matthijs de Ligt after he joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich.
De Ligt joined as part of a double swoop that also included full-back Noussair Mazraoui, with United forking out around £56million for the pair. And Martinez is delighted with the additions of two “really good” defenders, who have become United’s third and fourth summer signings.
Striker Joshua Zirkzee has also joined from Bologna, while 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro has made the move from Lille. However, Yoro will miss the start of the season after picking up a foot injury in pre-season.
“I’m so excited about Matthijs and Noussair,” Martinez said in an interview for BBC show Football Focus. “We are here to help them and they are really good players, that’s why Manchester United bought them.
“They will show [that] quickly because they have really good qualities and they like to play football and they are special for our system. I think Matthijs will give us a strong personality, playing from the back, defending high, I can’t wait to play with him.”
De Ligt and Mazraoui could make their debuts in United’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday, with the Red Devils having several defensive injury concerns. Yoro will be out for around three months, while full-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also sidelined.
As soon as I heard that Manchester United wanted me, I felt an excitement about the opportunity for a new challenge at such an historic club,” De Ligt told club media. “In the conversations that followed, I was impressed by the vision that the football leadership set out, and the role they saw for me in it
“Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”
Mazraoui added: “It’s an incredible feeling to be a Manchester United player, and I cannot wait to walk out at Old Trafford wearing the red shirt. I know that I’m joining the club at an exciting time; everyone I’ve spoken to has the same ambition for us to win trophies together and I can feel the determination to achieve that.
“Erik ten Hag played an important part in my development as a player, so it is exciting to be reuniting with him as I enter the prime years of my career. I know what he expects from his players, and I will give everything to help the group be successful.”
