talkSPORT pundits slammed over Lisandro Martinez's criticism
Written By
Ernest SundayA passionate sports journalist with an eye for detail.
Manchester United's new defender, Lisandro Martinez, has come under criticism from several pundits since joining the Premier League from Ajax.
The Argentine international, who stands at 5.9 ft, has been labelled as unsuitable for Premier League football due to his height, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher among those who have Erik ten Hag's decision to play him at centre-back.
Martinez, who made his Premier League debut against Brentford, playing alongside Manchester United's captain Harry Maguire, faced much criticism, especially after being beaten to a header in their side's 4-0 defeat against the Bees.
Despite his improvement in Manchester United's last two games in a new pairing with French international player Raphaël Varane, talkSPORT pundits Graeme Souness and Gabby Agbonlahor insist his height makes him a poor defender who will struggle against tall strikers.
"I think Martinez will be sorely tested and be found out in the Premier League," Graeme Souness said on talkSPORT live radio show. "He is not special at anything."
"Another thing I don't like about Martinez is that he goes to the ground too readily. The clever defenders stay on their feet. "
"When he plays against Nunez, Haaland, these sorts of physical strikers, I think he will struggle," former Aston Villa player Agbonlahor added.
Following their statement, Manchester United fans slammed the pundits, labelling them incompetent and claiming they lack content.
Lisandro Martinez has improved his game since Manchester United's 4-0 loss to Brentford, assisting the Red Devils to back-to-back victories over Liverpool and Southampton.
According to a stat from the Premier League, the 24-year-old defender has only lost one aerial battle out of six he has faced in his last three games.
With eight interceptions in his last three matches, Martinez has helped restore aggressiveness in Manchester United's defensive department that has been found wanting under past coaches.
Despite Manchester United's slow start to the season, the club's fans believe Martinez would help them compete this season if he stays fit throughout the season.