Erik ten Hag downplays Lisandro Martinez height concerns - and stats back him up

Erik ten Hag is not worried about Lisandro Martinez's lack of height, despite concerns being raised about Manchester United 's latest signing.

Martinez has joined the club for an initial £46.8million fee, with a further £8.5m set to come in add-ons, bringing the total up to £55.3m. He has agreed to a five-year contract worth £120,000 per week and will add depth to United's options in central defence.

Although the 24-year-old can play in central midfield and at left-back, he played most of his 118 games for Ajax as a left-sided centre-back. He excelled in the position during three years under Ten Hag's management in Amsterdam, despite being just 5ft 9in - considerably smaller than the average centre-back in elite football.

Ten Hag oversaw his arrival from Argentine side Defensa Y Justicia in 2019 and his development over the following seasons. He has therefore brushed off questions about his new signing's height. "I think he's not the tallest but he is quite good in the air," he said. "I feel comfortable with that. Of course, you need the right balance.

"He has good timing, that's one of his capabilities. I think the players who are there, we have the perspective immediately to contribute and also Martinez. We bring him in to not strengthen the squad, but the team."

Martinez is considerably shorter than United's other centre-backs: Harry Maguire is 6ft 3in, Raphael Varane is 6ft 2in and Victor Lindelof is 6ft 1in. However, his stature hasn't appeared to hold back the Argentina international during his career so far. In fact, he has eye-catching statistics to back up Ten Hag's claims.

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According to Opta, Martinez won 70 per cent of his headers in the Eredivisie last season, the highest success rate of any player to contest more than 100. Meanwhile, WhoScored points out that his percentage of aerial duels won in both league and European competition last season was 69 per cent - better than 6ft 5in Newcastle defender Dan Burn (66 per cent).

Martinez is a very confident player, who is ready to play in whatever position is best for the team. "I'm not closed to anything," he told Ole last year. "The day I get to play central midfielder, I'll do it again. If that helps the team, I'm going to do it. The same as from full-back. I consider myself a versatile player who is always predisposed to give my best beyond any position."

However, Ten Hag bought him to play left centre-back. "I analysed United's squad last year in the left part of the defence," he said. "He is left-footed and that is an advantage in possession and also in defending. And I think he also brings a South American spirit, control, aggressiveness. He can bring spirit to the team and in cooperation with the fans, I think it will fit really good to Manchester United and the way we play."