Man Utd drop hint over Lisandro Martinez injury return
Manchester United have agreed to release Lisandro Martinez for international duty after being called up for Argentina's fixtures this month despite not yet returning from injury.
Martinez has missed much of the 2023/24 campaign so far. He underwent surgery on a foot problem carried over from last season in September and didn't return until January, but then suffered a knee injury at the start of February and was ruled out for roughly eight weeks.
Though the centre-back has not yet returned to training, he has been called into the Argentina squad for their international friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica in the USA.
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The Mail report Martinez is expected to travel and meet up with the Argentina camp on Monday, even though he was not due to make any Premier League return until United's trip to Brentford on March 30 at the earliest. Nevertheless, United have given the green-light to his release.
National teams often demand to themselves assess players whose fitness is questionable and clubs often oblige, so it's not unusual for United to agree to Argentina's request. Should Martinez play any minutes for La Albiceleste this month though, then he is likely to be in strong contention to face Brentford upon his return to England.
United have stumbled through the season battling several injuries to key players, with Casemiro, Raphael Varane and Mason Mount among their other stars to have missed extended periods.
Performances and results have not lived up to pre-season expectation and United sit sixth in the Premier League, eight points adrift of the top four. Erik ten Hag has routinely pointed to the club's injury crisis as an excuse for their decline.
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This article was originally published on www.90min.com as Man Utd drop hint over Lisandro Martinez injury return.
Arteta avoids ‘regret’ as Arsenal’s huge summer gamble takes them past 14-year obstacle
Mikel Arteta gambled a great deal of his stock and Arsenal’s enviable position on David Raya and Kai Havertz. They are Champions League quarter-finalists.
It was the perfect storm. As Arsenal supporters lost their collective nerve and minds over Mikel Arteta’s sudden reversion to his substitution aversion, Ally McCoist introduced an enticing thought to the equation and wondered whether the manager truly was a man of his word.
An awful lot of disingenuous, bad faith nonsense was espoused at the start of the season about Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation, not least by Arteta himself. He contributed to the mess of opinions in the great David Raya versus Aaron Ramsdale narrative by suggesting one of his “few regrets” as a manager was that he lacked the requisite minerals on two separate occasions to substitute his goalkeeper.
Arteta will have known he provided potential ammunition for the critics to take a future shot, yet few would have predicted it might be used against him so soon in a Champions League knockout tie, nor would they pretend the ruthless decision to change his No. 1 has been anything but a resounding success.
And as it was, the point was moot: Ramsdale’s penalty record is hardly stellar and certainly not markedly better than Raya’s, if at all. McCoist was having his usual fun and Arteta was not about to go all Louis van Gaal on Raya, particularly after he delivered perhaps the most tranquil, self-assured performance of any Arsenal player on a nerve-wracking evening.
Related video: Simon Collings reacts to Arsenal penalty shootout drama (Dailymotion)
His display in the shootout was no different, save for Brazilian midfielder Pepe and forgotten Liverpool son Marko Grujic finally breaching his goal when granted the overwhelming advantage of a free shot from 12 yards. Raya got a hand to the latter’s excellent attempt, tipped Wendell’s fine shot onto the post and finally thwarted Galeno to send Arsenal through to their first Champions League quarter-final in 14 years.
To think, if he had done the last of those three weeks ago then none of this would have been necessary. Silly really.
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Arsenal players mob David Raya after his penalty shootout heroics.
The Gunners were flawless in the Champions League’s first penalty shootout since the final of 2016, when Portuguese centre-half Pepe was booked during a wonderful show of dark arts mastery and defensive wizardry. Some things never do change for the 41-year-old.
He was truly magnificent and an unworthy loser whose timeless brilliance seemed unbreachable at times. It was the sort of occasion on which only something utterly breath-taking could have broken his resistance.
Step forward Martin Odegaard and a truly ludicrous assist. The footwork was sublime and the pass sumptuous, converted sweetly by Leandro Trossard to restore parity but not serenity. Arsenal remained in a European knockout tie and Porto seemed to take affront at the suggestion they might be blown away, as if nothing was learned from the first leg.
An inspired Sergio Conceicao engineered two of the finest tactical performances of the entire season. His side were seamlessly organised, disrupting Arsenal’s press with their shape, defending as one and attacking with purpose. The time-wasting elements were present – countless injuries and delayed throws chief among them – but only details in the wider picture of Porto’s quality and bravery.
It affected some Arsenal players more than others. William Saliba was dreadful in possession. Jorginho was ineffective and often exposed. Bukayo Saka could not get anything going. But Raya was superb, Jakub Kiwior was imposing, Kai Havertz carried out a thankless task admirably and Odegaard was inspirational. At least as many stepped up as were brought to their knees by Porto’s industry and ingenuity.
Thirty-three minutes felt early for the camera cut to a nervous fan in the stands watching through their fingers but it did capture the mood. Home players tried to gee up the supporters at every corner but the ease with which Porto dealt with all nine of them neatly summarised how much this felt like one of those games where things would not fall for an uncharacteristically poor Arsenal; the only question was who would make the telling mistake.
Arteta was the prime candidate as the clock ticked and the bench remained firm. Neither side made a change until Gabriel Jesus replaced Jorginho in the 83rd minute, but Porto subsequently called on five substitutes before Arsenal made their next one.
Jesus had an immediate impact and at least asked something different of a Porto side who had long been able to answer any Arsenal query proffered by actual knackered and nervous mortals, rather than the footballing deity Odegaard embodied briefly just before half-time. Neither Oleksandr Zinchenko nor Eddie Nketiah could replicate that in their 14 minutes, and in the end they had no part to play in the shootout either.
For that, Arteta trusted those who had brought Arsenal to that stage. Aside from Saka continuing to exorcise his penalty-based demons, those who repaid that faith were all individuals in whom the manager has arguably put the most stock: his captain, Odegaard; the mocked signing, Havertz; the £100m transformative addition, Rice; and the goalkeeper they “did not need”, Raya. They certainly needed him here.
It is through their composure and calm that it remains perfectly feasible we might witness the actual sign of Arsenal – still Premier League leaders, too – celebrating like they’ve won the Champions League. It doesn’t bear thinking about.
England’s biggest hope still leads Europe’s top 10 Under-21 stars
Manchester United, City, Liverpool and Arsenal already have their eyes on many on this list, which is headed by England’s great hope for the Euros…
Here, according to WhoScored ratings, are the top 10 players aged under 21 to have played at least a dozen of their team’s games in Europe’s top five leagues…
10) Michael Kayode (Fiorentina)
The Italy right-back’s breakthrough season has already alerted the big boys, including Arsenal, to the 19-year-old’s talent. “Of course, various Premier teams follow him and have followed him” said his agent last month. “Fiorentina need not worry.” Until the summer, at least, when Inter Milan are also considering Kayode as a possible replacement for Denzel Dumfries.
9) Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid)
The midfielder has missed spells this season through injury but he has 17 appearances under his belt in Diego Simeone’s engine room. The fact he was rested at the weekend before the Champions League clash with Inter Milan highlights his importance to Atletico.
8) Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
The 20-year-old defender was one of three players said to have been under Man Utd’s microscope during the weekend’s clash between Juventus and Atalanta. The others: Teun Koopmeiners and Gleison Bremer. If United decide they want him, they will have to deposit another £50million into Atalanta’s account, apparently.
7) Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Yamal’s form, including this beauty last week, is said to have prompted PSG to offer silly money as they search for Kylian Mbappe’s replacement. Barca, much as they need the cash, are said to see the 16-year-old (so they say) as untouchable.
6) Gavi (Barcelona)
The 19-year-old hasn’t played since November when he sustained a potentially season-ending knee injury on international duty. Still, he too remains a target for PSG while they look to do something daft.
5) Sávio (Girona)
City have already got their claws into the 19-year-old. Which isn’t necessarily a good thing…
Read more: Savio to Man City exposes the absolute sham of the multi-club ownership model
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4) Matias Soule (Frosinone)
The 20-year-old winger will return to Juventus in the summer after a season on loan at Frosinone, when the Old Lady has a decision to make. Soule is under contract until 2026 but already has Premier League clubs on his tail, in addition to Saudi sides. But 10-goal Soule wants to stay in Europe.
3) Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Liverpool and Manchester City have both had eyes on Wirtz long before he drove Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga summit this term, but apparently he prefers a different destination.
2) Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)
The 20-year-old versatile forward could be huge for Netherlands in Euro 2024, after which PSG must decide whether to keep, sell or loan out again. RB Leipzig are said to be confident of agreeing to borrow Simons a while longer after eight goals and 12 assists so far.Related video: Premier League title race hots up - Liverpool and Man City draw 1-1, as Arsenal move top (SNTV)
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Premier League title race hots up - Liverpool and Man City draw 1-1, as Arsenal move top
1) Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
From a ‘different planet’ says Javier Tebas and, to be fair, Stourbridge probably does seem a world away to the La Liga president. Still, some of Bellingham’s performances in his first season at Real don’t appear human. Many feel England’s Euro 2024 hopes could rest with the 20-year-old. And they might be right…
Read next: The famous F365 Euro 2024 England ladder: Kane remains immovable but no Bellingham, no party
Man Utd ‘reject’ deals for Barcelona duo but eye summer move for £51m Newcastle flop
Man Utd have no intention of making any offers for Barcelona duo Raphinha or Ferran Torres this summer, according to reports.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not wasted any time in making changes since his deal to buy 25 per cent of the club was completed last month.
Man Utd are getting their recruitment department in order
Omar Berrada is coming in as new CEO from arch-rivals Man City while they are stepping up their attempts to agree a fee to allow Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth to become their new sporting director.
There are also rumours that Ratcliffe and INEOS want Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman as their new head of recruitment and Southampton’s Jason Wilcox as technical director.
Big-money deals for players like Paul Pogba, Antony and Harry Maguire have seen major questions raised in recent times over who is making the final decision on signings.
READ MORE: Man Utd eye ‘maximum returns’ from £135m-rated duo, City target Toon star
But INEOS hope to have a structure in place to avoid the same amount of mistakes with Spanish publication Nacional insisting that Man Utd have already ‘rejected’ two players this summer.
Barcelona duo Raphinha and Torres ‘are not’ Man Utd targets despite links to the Premier League giants with the Red Devils looking to go down a different road.
Former Leeds winger Raphinha and ex-Man City forward Torres ‘had been placed among the possible objectives’ at Man Utd this summer but ‘the reality is that neither of them interests the board’.Related video: What No European Football Means For Manchester United (Dailymotion)
Despite showing interest in Raphinha in previous transfer windows, Man Utd ‘don’t want to know anything about him anymore’ as he ‘continues to devalue himself’.
Torres’ ‘case is different’ with the Spaniard playing well this season but his 11 goals and four assists are ‘not been enough for the English to want to bet on his hiring’.
Former Newcastle man emerges as a target
And another Spanish publication in the form of COPE claim that Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino is being closely monitored by Man Utd.
Sociedad’s talks with Merino, who has a release clause worth £51m in his deal, over a new contract are at a ‘standstill’ with Man Utd, Man City, Juventus and Atletico Madrid looking into the possibility of taking advantage of his circumstances.
Merino, who was linked in April 2022 with a return to the English top flight, joined Sociedad from Premier League side Newcastle after playing just 25 times for them in all competitions.
READ MORE: Premier League improvement table: 1) Liverpool, 14) Arsenal, 16) Newcastle
Mason Mount finally makes Man Utd return after four months of injury misery
Mason Mount is finally back in training for Manchester United and hoping to put his injury nightmare behind him.
Mount, 25, joined United from boyhood side Chelsea in July for an initial £55million and started the Red Devils' first two games of the season. Since then he has missed a total of 27 games with two separate injury issues.
His last appearance came in the rather laboured 1-0 win at home to Luton Town on November 11. Mount initially got back on the grass at the Red Devils' Carrington training complex in late December but was swiftly hit with a fresh setback before he could make an appearance.
United confirmed the news of his most recent return to training via their website on Tuesday morning, explaining that the former Chelsea star has worked tirelessly throughout his protracted rehabilitation period. Mount is still expected to miss fixture No.28 this Sunday when the Red Devils welcome arch enemies Liverpool to Old Trafford in the FA Cup.
Ahead of Saturday's 2-0 victory over Everton, manager Erik ten Hag said: "Mason Mount, I think he is in a good spell now and he will return shortly. I think after the international break."
The England international won't be the only player missing as United will also be without Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial and Tyrell Malacia. But there is some good news, particularly the imminent return of striker Rasmus Hojlund, who suffered a muscle injury in training last month.Related video: Why Manchester United Wants Dan Ashworth So Badly (Dailymotion)
Ten Hag revealed: "For next week, some players are planning to return, hopefully when the process will continue like it is now, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka: I expect them to be available for our game against Liverpool. Hojlund as well."
Your turn! Will Mason Mount prove to be worth £55million? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
© Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Ten Hag is expected to provide a fresh update on Friday during his pre-Liverpool press conference. The 25-year-old is still waiting for his first goal as a United player, having only managed to record one assist in his 12 appearances so far.
Last week, Mount posted an image of himself in the Carrington gym with the caption: "Progress." Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes replied by saying: "Almost there," while Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice - a good friend of Mount's - commented: "What a sight."
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