Lisandro Martinez's recurring injury may prevent him from playing against Villa! He once considered retirement due to severe injury, potentially forcing Manchester United to buy Van de Ven.

Lisandro Martinez, initially anticipated to be fit for Manchester United's encounter with Aston Villa, has unfortunately experienced a recurrence of his injury and is projected to be absent from this Sunday's Premier League fixture at Old Trafford, a key match in the race for third position. The 28-year-old "Argentine butcher" holds significant tactical importance for any Red Devils coach, boasting outstanding forward passing skills; however, his persistent injury issues cast doubt on his long-term suitability.

Under Carrick's management, Martinez initially formed a solid defensive partnership with Maguire, playing every minute of the first five matches. However, a month ago he sustained a calf injury during training, initially thought to require only a one-match rest, but the recovery period has extended, leading to his absence in matches against Everton, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United. Now, the number of matches he misses may continue to increase.

If Martinez cannot participate in Sunday's Premier League game against Villa, he may also be unavailable for the away match against Bournemouth before the international break. The mid-month fixture against Leeds United next month might be the optimal timing for his official return.

Martinez's absence has impacted Manchester United's performance level; the team lost 1-2 to Newcastle last Wednesday, marking Carrick's first defeat since taking charge. Post-match reports suggested Martinez might recover timely to feature in United's key clash with Villa. At that time, the Argentine international indeed resumed training, but regrettably, he soon encountered new issues.

The Daily Mail reports that Martinez experienced a minor adverse reaction after training at Carrington, making him likely to miss the Villa match. The report states that while Martinez's problem is not severe, Manchester United prefers not to rush his return, opting for a cautious approach in managing his rehabilitation. Martinez himself will not risk it, as he also hopes to participate in Argentina's World Cup defense journey this summer in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

This is understandable, given that Martinez's biggest trouble since joining Manchester United has been frequent injuries. Since his transfer from Ajax in July 2022, he has suffered seven injury setbacks. The longest occurred in November 2025, sidelining him for nearly 300 days. In fact, before joining the Red Devils, Martinez had just recovered from an injury at Ajax that kept him out for two months.

Martinez recently revealed that during a severe knee injury last February, he even considered retirement. His anterior cruciate ligament was damaged, requiring an 11-month recovery. Martinez disclosed that Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Liverpool's Mac Allister visited and encouraged him at home during his toughest period, which deeply moved him.

"That was one of the hardest situations in my life, needing everyone's help; without their support, things couldn't proceed smoothly. I had to start from scratch," Martinez recalled. "Big Martinez and Mac Allister came to my home to support me. This reflects the unity within our national team, where everyone cares for each other. Big Martinez first messaged me: 'I'm coming to your house.' Upon arrival, he said: 'Look, Mac Allister is also coming.' I said: 'Then you host him.' It was a beautiful moment."

It is worth noting that the two players widely regarded as Manchester United's current preferred starting center-back pairing, Martinez and Dutch defender De Ligt, are both sidelined due to injuries. The 26-year-old De Ligt has been unavailable since late November last year and has not played under Carrick.

Former manager Ruben Amorim initially stated De Ligt would miss only one match, later suggesting a return before New Year, but three months have passed, and De Ligt has not resumed training! It remains unclear how long De Ligt's back injury will keep him out.

Patrick Doku will definitely miss Manchester United's match against Villa, but Mazraoui, who was injured against Newcastle, may recover timely to play. The £60 million midfielder Mason Mount is rumored to return, but given his injury record, fans currently cannot be certain.

Fortunately, Emery's Villa is also plagued by injuries, with several players potentially absent, including Tielemans, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Andres Garcia, and Harvey Elliott.

Moreover, Villa will play the Europa League round of 16 first leg against Lille on Thursday. The Red Devils hold a physical advantage; if they defeat Villa at home, they will secure a 3-point lead over their opponent. Manager Carrick previously beat Emery's team 2-0 during his first stint at Manchester United, when Emery coached Champions League opponent Villarreal.

Due to Martinez's injury absence, French youngster Lenny Yoro gained a starting opportunity. However, Yoro has struggled to consistently perform at his best this season. Early in the match against Newcastle, he misjudged the ball's trajectory and failed to clear it, fortunately the ball only hit the frame.

Therefore, if Manchester United aims to achieve the grand goal of winning the Premier League before the club's 150th anniversary in 2028, they may need to sign a new center-back, as the current defenders are either too old or too young, and the mid-generation players are prone to injuries.

Recent rumors suggest Manchester United is interested in Tottenham's speedy center-back Van de Ven, aiming to acquire him while the opponent faces relegation risks. Van de Ven is also a left-footed center-back with remarkable ball-carrying ability.

But the biggest obstacle is Van de Ven's price tag, with Tottenham demanding £125 million! To achieve championship ambitions, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS team may have to spend.