Sofia Quijada
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Barcelona sporting director Deco is laying the groundwork to sign Lisandro Martinez, with the Argentine centre-back emerging as a defensive target for Barcelona as contract uncertainty clouds his future at Old Trafford. According to a report from Fichajes, the Catalan club is monitoring Martinez closely as Hansi Flick pushes for reinforcements at the back.
Injury Setbacks Define His United Spell
Martinez arrived at Manchester United from Ajax in 2022 for a fee close to €55 million. His time in England has been productive when healthy but repeatedly interrupted. A cruciate ligament injury suffered in early 2025 kept him sidelined until late November, cutting into a run of form that had made him a defensive cornerstone under multiple managers.
Across his United career, Martinez has made 118 appearances and scored seven goals. His profile fits what Flick wants in Barcelona’s backline: a left-footed centre-back who defends with intensity and can carry the ball out from deep. That trait matters to a Barcelona side built around possession and progression from the back, and it explains why Deco views him as a fit rather than just a depth signing.
Barcelona’s need for a reliable defensive option was exposed recently. Thin cover at centre-back contributed to a costly result against Paris Saint-Germain, pushing the club to prioritize adding proven quality at the position before similar gaps resurface in bigger fixtures.
Barcelona See a Window in 2027
Martinez’s current deal runs until June 2027, though United hold a club option to extend it by a further year. Should that extension go unused, he would be free to open talks with clubs outside England as early as January, with a free transfer possible once his contract lapses. Barcelona previously looked at Cristian Romero as an alternative, but the Argentine joined Atletico Madrid over the summer instead, leaving Deco to refocus his search.
No formal talks have taken place between Barcelona and United. Any deal remains speculative at this stage, tied entirely to how United handle the contract decision and whether Martinez himself wants to leave the Premier League.
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Questions Over His Future at Old Trafford
Martinez’s standing at United has come under scrutiny beyond the transfer market. After a 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid, he publicly questioned whether the club had done enough to build a squad capable of competing with Europe’s elite. He later met with club officials and apologised, and manager Michael Carrick treated the incident as closed.
The episode hasn’t erased doubts about his long-term plans. Martinez is currently valued around €40 million, though United have not set an official asking price. Barcelona face competition too, with Atletico Madrid also showing interest in the World Cup winner.
For Deco, Martinez offers a specific answer to a specific problem: a left-sided, ball-playing centre-back with Premier League pedigree. Whether that solution materializes depends on United’s contract call and Martinez’s own appetite for a move to La Liga. Stay with TipsGG for updates as this transfer situation develops.