Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has been discussing Lisandro Martinez amid links to both Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Argentine is being courted by two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and while the 24-year-old is a very talented player, Ferdinand has some reservations about his physicality.
Indeed, standing at 5ft 9, Martinez could be dominated by some of the Premier League’s best strikers such as Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland, and Ferdinand thinks that even someone like Chris Wood could cause him problems.
What’s been said?
Ferdinand spoke about Martinez struggling physically.
“You have to be ready physically to deal with these big forwards. Nunez and Haaland have come in at Liverpool and City, they’re over 6ft 2 each, you have to come up against these guys on a regular basis. Chris Wood at Newcastle, these are big, big guys. Is he going to be able to deal with people like that the size that he is? He’s on the smaller side as a centre-half,” Ferdinand said.
Won’t cope
If Martinez isn’t up to scratch physically, he won’t cope in the Premier League.
Ferdinand thinks that even someone like Chris Wood will cause Martinez problems, then there are a whole host of other strikers who will be a thorn in his side.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Christian Benteke and Taiwo Awoniyi are all very physical strikers who could target Martinez’s physical deficits, and they all play for teams that Arsenal or Manchester United should be brushing aside with ease.
Martinez may not be the answer to either club’s defensive shortcomings.
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