Manchester United have officially confirmed that Lisandro Martínez suffered a cruciate ligament injury during their 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Argentine defender was forced off the pitch on a stretcher in the 82nd minute after receiving medical attention, and the club has since announced that he will be sidelined until next season.
In a statement, Manchester United said: “Lisandro Martínez sustained a cruciate ligament injury in Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace.
The medical team is currently assessing the injury to determine the best course of treatment and a rehabilitation timeline. Everyone at the club extends their support to Lisandro and wishes him strength for a full and successful recovery.”
This fresh injury setback is particularly heartbreaking for Martínez, who has already had to battle through a difficult season filled with physical challenges.
Almost a year ago to the day, he picked up a medial collateral ligament injury during a match against West Ham. After returning to action for United’s 1-1 draw at Brentford in late March, he was again forced off with a calf problem that sidelined him for another six weeks.
Now, with this latest and more serious injury, Martínez is expected to miss the remainder of the current campaign and possibly even the beginning of the next.
United’s new manager, Rúben Amorim, also addressed the situation in a recent press conference.
He admitted the team is in a difficult period and acknowledged that failing to bring in experienced players during the January transfer window could come back to haunt him.
Amorim expressed concern over Luke Shaw’s condition too, stating that Shaw is dealing with a minor issue in a different area from his previous injury.
The manager emphasized the need to be cautious with Shaw’s recovery, especially considering the growing list of injuries among United’s defenders.
Amorim accepted full responsibility for the current situation, recognizing that results matter more than anything in top-flight football. He explained that while his decision to take over mid-season and implement changes without reinforcements was risky, he believes in his long-term vision.
However, he acknowledged the risk involved, saying, “This is a sport of results, and we are clearly in a tough spot.”
Given Martínez’s long-term absence and the uncertainty around Shaw’s fitness, United may need to accelerate plans to strengthen their defense this summer.
With the transfer window approaching, names like Matthijs de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite are already being discussed as potential solutions to reinforce a backline that has become increasingly vulnerable.
