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Lisandro Martinez believes his embrace with Raphael Varane after beating France with Argentina to win the World Cup was vital to the pair’s budding partnership on the pitch.
The former Ajax defender was a substitute in the World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, but was quick to console his Manchester United defensive partner and insisted that their relationship off the field has benefited them on it.
Martinez’s fighting spirt has been praised by Erik ten Hag since his arrival in the Premier League, and he has strengthened a defence that looked shaky in the past alongside Varane – with both in action in Friday’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Everton.
Lisandro Martinez hugged Raphael Varane after winning the World Cup with Argentina
Varane was also seen embracing his Manchester United team-mate in a guard of honour
And the 24-year-old has talked up the importance of the pair’s bromance, claiming that they share a ‘mutual love and respect’.
‘It was really, really important,’ he said, when asked about his consolations and embrace for Varane at the Lusail.
‘We’ve only known each other a short time at United but we get on really, really well and there’s a real mutual respect and feeling between us. It’s like we’ve known each other for years.
The Argentinian claimed that it feels like he and Varane have played together ‘for years’
‘He was my opponent, but that’s football. One team has to win, and won team has to lose, but I think it’s important to recognise that.
‘There’s a mutual love and respect between us. We shared that hug and it was important because football is like that. What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch, but what happens off it is just as important and relationships like that count.’
Martinez arrived at United in the summer of 2022, one of two players alongside Brazilian forward Antony to follow Ten Hag to Old Trafford from the Dutch capital.
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Martinez’s arrival in summer 2022 has coincided with an improved Man United defensive unit
And although he arrived to a mixed response – with many questioning his diminutive stature – he has proven to be crucial to United’s recent resurgence with the Red Devils currently on a seven-game winning streak.
And when playing alongside Varane at the heart of defence, Martinez has lost only once in 11 attempts, suffering a 6-3 defeat to nemesis Manchester City on gameweek nine of the Premier League season.
In that time, United have only conceded five goals aside from the hammering from City, and kept as many clean sheets, which would suggest that the budding bromance is reaping rewards on the pitch.
The Red Devils have lost only once with Martinez and Varane playing alongside one another