Martinez appears to have decided against extending his contract with Manchester United and wants to leave Old Trafford during this summer transfer window. Lisandro Martinez wants to find a new club.
This move immediately caught the attention of Barcelona, where Hansi Flick has long viewed the Argentine center-back as an ideal option for his defense. According to The Athletic, Flick has asked Barcelona to push forward with the Martinez deal. The German manager highly values the 28-year-old defender’s left-footed playing ability, ball progression from the back, and tactical flexibility. These are qualities that fit well with the possession and pressing system he is building at Camp Nou.
Martinez only has a contract with Manchester United until June 2027. After the player rejected extension offers, the English side does not want to fall into a passive position and is aiming to sell him this summer. The price set by Man Utd is around €40 million.
Barcelona has given the green light to the recruitment plan, but one major obstacle remains. The Catalan club needs to free up wage space and is expected to sell at least one defender before submitting an official bid to Manchester United.
Old Trafford also wants to resolve Martinez’s future within August to have time to find a replacement. Last season, the Argentine center-back made only 19 appearances due to recurring injuries, but whenever he played, he still showed significant tactical influence.
Barcelona is expected to accelerate player sales in the second week of August. If completed, the reigning La Liga champions will immediately submit an offer.
