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Patrice Evra explains why he ‘loves’ Man Utd star Lisandro Martinez and takes swipe at former Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker.
Patrice Evra took a shot at former Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker while explaining why he “loves” new Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.
Martinez, who is presently in Qatar with Argentina’s World Cup team, has had a solid start to his United career after moving there for £57 million from Ajax last summer.
Given his small stature, some experts questioned how Martinez would perform in the Premier League, but the Argentine is disproving them by forming a promising centre-back combo with Raphael Varane.
Evra has hailed Martinez as one of United’s best signings in recent years and says he was ‘laughing’ when pundits suggested he would struggle due to his physique.
The former Manchester United star listed former Arsenal defender Mertesacker as someone who would typically only choose the simple option when playing out from the back and said that one of Martinez’s strongest qualities is his ability to make progressive passes.
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During his seven years at the Emirates, Mertesacker made more than 200 games for the Gunners, contributing to three FA Cup victories.
‘This is one of the best signings we’ve had for years at Manchester United,’ Evra said on the Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
‘It’s because of his fighting spirit. That’s what United fans want to see – those players have to bleed for the shirt.
‘People were talking about his height and I was laughing. Some people said I was too small when I arrived in the Premier League as well. When you play with that heart and passion, size doesn’t matter.
‘When he gets the ball, he is so clean and composed. Mexico were pressing everywhere [in the World Cup Group C game] but every time he got the ball he was calm and playing forward. That’s what I love.
‘He doesn’t play those one-metre balls to the next player. This is easy. When I see those stats – I remember Mertesacker at Arsenal, the stats said he never lost the ball – but he was passing it one metre, I can do that every day.
‘But Martinez puts the ball through the lines like Michael Carrick. That’s what he does and I love that. What a player, what a player.’