After reaching an agreement with Ajax, Manchester United is confident that Lisandro Martinez will be allowed to join his new teammates on their pre-season tour in Australia.
The Eredivisie winners ultimately accepted the Red Devils’ £46million offer on Thursday, and the Argentine may be confirmed as a United player on Friday.
Ajax had previously rejected two bids from United, and Arsenal had also made many approaches, but Martinez had always insisted on being reunited with Erik ten Hag.
To avoid jeopardizing his move to Old Trafford, the 24-year-old was kept out of the Dutch club’s training session on Thursday.
According to The Athletic, United is already planning for Martinez and hopes that he will be able to fly to Australia soon to join the rest of the group.
Ten Hag’s team will face Melbourne Victory on Friday, which will be too soon for Martinez to play, before meeting Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday and Saturday, respectively.
If United completes the paperwork in time, the Argentina international might be part of one of next week’s friendlies.
Following a meeting with Barcelona on Wednesday, United CEO Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough flew to Amsterdam to finalize the agreement.
The talks had struck multiple stumbling blocks in the previous days and weeks, but Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar – who, of course, also played for United – is thought to have played a key role in resuming them.
Martinez reportedly made it known to Ajax that he intended to move to Manchester and personally turned down Arsenal’s offer, preventing a bidding war.
Personal terms have not been an issue, with a contract agreed upon, and Martinez will sign soon.
On Thursday, his personal chef hinted that the transaction was nearing completion by posting a snapshot of a ‘farewell supper’ with the versatile defender on Instagram and imploring United fans to ‘treat him well.’
Martinez will be United’s second summer signing, following Tyrell Malacia, but a deal for Frenkie de Jong is proving more difficult, despite an agreement with Barcelona, because the Dutchman does not want to leave Camp Nou.
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