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Manchester United defenders breathe easier today as Lisandro Martínez confirms he stands fully ready for selection this week. The 27-year-old Argentine trained without restrictions throughout the international break and now enters Ruben Amorim’s plans for the crunch Premier League clash against Ipswich Town on November 24, 2025.
Martínez last played on October 19 against Brentford, when a knee issue forced him off early in the second half. Initial scans raised fears of a lengthy absence, but the defender responded brilliantly to an intensive rehabilitation program at Carrington. Club medical staff cleared him for full contact on Monday, and he completed every session this week with zero discomfort.
Amorim delivered the news fans craved in Thursday’s press conference. He smiled broadly when asked about the centre-back. “Lisandro is ready,” the Portuguese coach declared. “He trained at one hundred percent intensity today and feels sharp. We missed his aggression, his leadership, his passing range – everything. He gives us a different dimension.”
The timing proves perfect for United. The team conceded eight goals in the four league matches Martínez missed and slipped to twelfth place. Defensive errors plagued recent performances, with Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt struggling for rhythm together. Martínez returns to reclaim his left centre-back role and instantly re-form the successful partnership with De Ligt that kept ten clean sheets last season.
Martínez himself posted a defiant message on Instagram moments after training finished. He shared a photo of his bloodied socks from the session, captioned simply with a knife emoji and “Listo 🔪”. Supporters flooded the comments with butcher references and red devil emojis within minutes. His nickname “The Butcher” has stuck since Ajax days, and Old Trafford chants grow louder every time he wins a crunching tackle.
