Man Utd preparing lucrative new contract for player who’s humbled Jamie Carragher

Man Utd are readying a new contract for a player signed less than one year ago and who wasted no time making a mockery of an early-season prediction.

Man Utd fended off stiff competition from Arsenal to bring Lisandro Martinez to Old Trafford last summer. The Argentina international was a known commodity to Erik ten Hag through their time at Ajax, and the Dutchman wasted little time installing Martinez alongside Raphael Varane in his preferred centre-back pairing.

However, Martinez’s first two Premier League appearances came when featuring alongside Harry Maguire and both ended in defeat.

Brighton won on opening day, but worse was to come when Brentford thumped Martinez and co. 4-0 next time out.

In the aftermath of that contest, Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, claimed a player of Martinez’s height operating at centre-half simply could not work in the Premier League. Martinez stands at a modest 5ft 9in tall which is undersized when compared to other centre-backs in the league.

Carragher then infamously stated (via the Daily Mail): “We should never judge managers or players too early, but I’m convinced this can’t work because the size of him playing in a back four.

“Maybe he could go play left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four he cannot play there in the Premier League.”

Fans of opposition clubs jumped onto the bandwagon and castigated Man Utd and Ten Hag for utilising Martinez at centre-half.

However, the Argentine has since gone on to forge one of the strongest pairings in the league alongside Varane. He also helped United end their six-year trophy drought when lifting the EFL Cup.

Martinez has also been lauded for his tenacity and aggression, something that United previously lacked at the heart of defence.

In lieu of proving the doubters wrong and his superb campaign, Fabrizio Romano has revealed Man Utd are prepared to reward Martinez with a new contract.

His current deal doesn’t expire until 2027, but United are ready to serve up new and improved terms to reflect his performances.

Romano noted a deal is not imminent and formal talks are yet to start. However, the transfer guru confirmed a new deal is now on the agenda.

Shedding light on how big of a raise Martinez could earn, the Sun claimed he’s set to be handed an extra £50,000-a-week. That would boost his £120,000-a-week earnings up to £170,000-per-week.

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