Manchester United are making an obvious Lisandro Martinez decision

Manchester United have no intention of parting with Lisandro Martinez this summer, despite mounting interest from some of Europe’s heavyweights, most notably Barcelona. Transfer insider Ben Jacobs told The United Stand that the club’s stance is unequivocal: the Argentine international is considered a cornerstone of Erik ten Hag’s defensive rebuild rather than a saleable asset.

Martinez, 28, arrives at this crossroads with a résumé few defenders can match. A World Cup and Copa América winner with Argentina, he added an FA Cup medal to his collection at Old Trafford and previously dominated the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax. Yet the centre-back’s immediate future hinges less on suitors and more on his recovery timeline; he is currently rehabbing another injury, though a return is said to be imminent.

The rumour mill has churned partly because Martinez is now entering the veteran phase of his career, no longer the fresh-faced prospect who first landed in Manchester. Still, United’s internal calculus is straightforward. Harry Maguire’s long-term role remains unresolved, while summer signing Matthijs de Ligt has spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch, leaving the squad thinner at centre-back than the club would like. Rather than cash in, United are actively exploring further reinforcements in that position.

On the pitch, Martinez’s appeal is obvious. He is an elite progressor of the ball from deep, capable of breaking lines with either foot, and combines that skill with the tenacity of what coaches privately label an “intelligent bulldog.” His acceleration allows him to step into midfield or engage Premier League strikers directly without sacrificing positional integrity.

Supporters anxious over Barcelona’s looming shadow will draw comfort from the club’s public and private messaging: Martinez is not for sale. The task now is to keep him healthy and ensure outside interest does not sway a player who has already given United some of their most composed defensive performances in recent seasons.