Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has praised Lisandro Martínez’s encouraging performance on his competitive debut for the club.
Martínez was named in the starting XI for United in their Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
The Argentine received plaudits from several of the Old Trafford faithful, including Brown.
Brown, who played for United for 13 years and made over 360 appearances for the club, was encouraged by Martínez’s debut performance and has backed the 24-year-old to perform even better.
He told Manutd.com: “He played well. I was still looking at the size of him, but I like him. He’s sharp, he’s in your face, he’s not scared of getting involved and he passed the ball out well.
“He took up some good positions and, for his home Premier League debut, it was not a bad one for him personally, even if it was the team.
“I think he is quick, he reads the game well and he doesn’t look like he panics when people are running at him with the ball. He was good. I know we got beat, but personally he was good.”
Martínez will need time to adapt
The central defender joined United from Ajax earlier this summer for a reported €67 million as the second defensive reinforcement of the Erik ten Hag era after Tyrell Malacia.
The Argentine international has come under plenty of scrutiny for his height as he stands at just 175cm, making him the shortest centre-back in the league.
However, Martínez produced an impressive display against Brighton as he showed his solidity and calmness on and off the ball.
Although United lost the game, the new man had the most touches of the ball and also completed the most passes.
Team captain Harry Maguire partnered the debutant at the heart of the defence and said post-game that they were not always on the same wavelength but would get better with time.
At just 24 years of age, Martínez has more than enough time to develop and should prove to be a shrewd signing for United in the long run.
