Manchester United was struck by terrible news on a key player last week when they discovered that Lisandro Martinez should be Out of action for the rest of the season.
Losing Argentinian is a blow for Ruben Amorim, given its importance in possession, especially in the construction game of United.
Argentinian plays an average of 6.01 gradual assists and 1.18 progressive courses per game this season, classifying it respectively in the 7% and 14% upper defenders, According to Fbref. It is essential to the Amorim team in the way they progress in deeper areas.
With the transfer window now closed, the Red Devils will have to look for an internal solution to replace Martinez. One of the candidates is Luke Shaw.
Why Shaw could replace Martinez
Once described as “the best left back in the country” by United Legend who has become the Sky Sport Expert Gary NevilleThere is no doubt about Shaw’s ability. However, he had trouble for any type of availability this season, with injuries affecting once again.
Unfortunately, the English international, who went to Euro 2024 during the summer, Managed only three appearances During the 2024/25 campaign.
He has not yet played in 2025, with his last match on December 1, a fantastic 4-0 victory for the Red Devils.
Regarding his relevance to the left central defender, it is actually something that Shaw has done many times during his career united so far, mainly under Erik Ten Hag. He has Played at the central defender 24 timesAnd would also be suitable for the left of a back three, since he sometimes throws himself into the central defender when he plays like a left back.
The greatest concern about Shaw replacing Martinez is his injury record. He really had trouble staying in shape this season. This was a problem throughout his career, but the 2024/25 campaign was particularly bad. Even now, Chris Wheeler reports He suffered another injury setback, to prolong his frustration of being sidelined.
Instead, to preserve Shaw’s longevity in a plain shirt, it could lead Amorim to start one of his new signatures to replace Martinez.
The player who could replace Martinez
The player in question here is the new central defender of the Red Devils Ayden Heaven. The graduate of the Arsenal Academy moved from the Gunners to Old Trafford at the end of the January transfer window, For a reported fee of approximately 1.5 million pounds sterling.
The 18 year old Never ever played once For the first team under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates stadium. Its professional beginnings and its only appearance in senior competition to date have come against Preston North End in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
However, he was on the bench a few times for the Gunners, including for their 2-0 victory against United in the Premier League earlier in the season. Given how difficult it is to enter an arsenal defense which includes Gabriel and William Saliba, it is understandable that the more regular minutes were not on the table.
The main thing that the starlet born in London could bring on the united side is the progression of the rear, which is exactly what they will lose in the absence of Martinez. His capacity in possession has been described as “fantastic” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, who also noted His “very unique” profile.
The 18 -year -old is actually a field of business field. This means that the ability it must progress forward and transport the ball out of defense, which Martinez has done so well this season, will have been learned from a more advanced role.
Indeed, this was presented in one of the pre-season games of Arsenal against an opponent from the Premier League. Bournemouth was at the reception of this impressive sky performance. That day, According to SofascoreHe completed 88% of his passes and four long balls over eight.
Heaven Statistics against Bournemouth in pre-season | |
|---|---|
Stat | Number |
Touch | 59 |
Precision | 88% |
The finished passes | 46/52 |
Long balls finished | 4/8 |
Duels on the ground have won | 2/3 |
Air duels have won | 1/1 |
Clearance | 3 |
Statistics of Sofas | |
Paradise could be the exact solution that the United States is looking for Martinez’s replacement. The club has a rich history of giving young players a platform to develop and show their skills, and he is a graduate of Hale End rather than a Carrington product, the same thing certainly applies.
This could be a huge chance for paradise to present his skills and to prove that he can be a regular starter in the absence of Martinez.
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Man utd can forget such by unleashing the replacement of the “ridiculous” adolescent
He has not yet played football from the first team for Man United but looks like an exciting talent.
