Lisandro Martínez (born 18 January 1998) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays primarily as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester United and the Argentina national team.
Martínez began his career at Newell’s Old Boys before joining Defensa y Justicia in 2017, initially on loan. He signed for Ajax in 2019, where he made 120 appearances over three seasons and won two Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup. He won the Ajax Player of the Year award in the 2021–22 season.
Martínez represented Argentina at under-20 and under-23 levels, before making his senior international debut in March 2019. He was a member of the Argentina squads that won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 Finalissima.
Martinez is nicknamed “the Butcher”, primarily because of his aggressive style of play on the pitch.
Lisandro Martinez Profile
• Date of birth: 18 January 1998
• Age: 24 years old (2022)
• Place of birth: Gualeguay, Argentina
• Nationality: Argentinian
• Position: Central defender
• Height: 175cm / 5ft 9ins
• Weight: 77kg / 167lbs
• Wages: £120,000 per week (Reported)
• Contract Expiry: 2027 (+ option for further year)
Parents
Lisandro Martinez’s parents are Silvina Cabrera (mother) and Raúl Martinez (father).
Family and Early Life
Lisandro Martinez was born on 18 January 1998 in Gualeguay, Argentina to mother Silvina Cabrera and father Raul Martinez.
Lisandro Martinez’s humble beginnings began in his family shelter, which is the El Molino neighbourhood of Gualeguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
Martinez is close with his mother, Silvina, and paid tribute to her on her birthday with a post on Instagram in May 2022, writing: “Thank you for every hug, for every piece of advice, for supporting me at all times and giving me that pure love every day. You are always there when I need you most. I feel enormous pride and I feel privileged to have the mother I have. I love you with my life! Let’s keep sharing this beautiful passion.”
Martinez has revealed that he idolised former Argentina and Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze when he was a young player. “My idol when I was little was Gabriel Heinze and I watched him a lot at Tata Martino’s Newell’s,” said Martinez.
“The direct passes that he put in, the moves in attack, the way he played, that he was aggressive, that he fought. I spoke [with Heinze] and I was very surprised. I don’t want to tell too much because it was an intimate, personal talk, but everything he told me was a total surprise.
“He knew that he was my idol and he ended up congratulating me and he gave me a couple of tips that I tried to put into practice.”
Girlfriend / Wife
Lisandro Martínez is currently in a relationship with his girlfriend, Muri Lopez Benitez.
The loved-up pair are believed to have met in their early teens and been in a relationship for a decade – with her move to England alongside him coming as no surprise.
Muri is the kind of woman who loves attention and has been handling it pretty well since becoming the girlfriend of Argentinian defender Lisandro Martinez.
Muri was born on July 19, 1998, in a wealthy Argentinian family. Her nationality is Argentinian, and she is currently staying in Manchester. As her parents are wealthy, she was brought up as a queen. She hasn’t revealed the identity of her parents and their profession yet.
Muri Lopez Benitez, the girlfriend of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has settled down well since moving to the UK from the Netherlands – and doesn’t even mind the weather.
The Argentinian model and professional dancer has joined her partner in Manchester following his £47million move from Ajax – where he continues to impress having reunited with Erik ten Hag.
Lisandro Martínez is not yet married for now.
Children
Lisandro Martinez has no children of his own for now.
Siblings
No information about Lisandro Martinez’s siblings for now.
Religion
Lisandro Martínez is a Christian by religion.
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