Erik ten Hag reveals phone call with Lisandro Martinez which persuaded him to seal Man Utd transfer over Arsenal
ERIK TEN HAG has opened up on the phone call that saw Lisandro Martinez join Manchester United instead of Arsenal.
Following Ten Hag’s Ajax exit, Martinez was always destined to leave the Dutch side last summer.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners wanted to bring him to North London, making him a priority transfer target.
Martinez, 24, had been all set to sign for Arsenal, but even as the deal edged closer he pined for a move to United.
Prior to completing a mooted Gunners switch, he phoned his old mentor Ten Hag.
Revealing all about the conversation, the 52-year-old told Voetbal International: “Whether I found it difficult to get Martinez away from Ajax?
“I had such a good time there, how we experienced the process together.
“From scratch we brought Ajax back to the European top. That project has been so dear to me.
“But Martinez himself wanted to leave Ajax anyway. If we hadn’t taken him, he would have gone to Arsenal.
“They wanted him anyway, he was top priority there. Licha (Martinez) called me at one point: ‘Coach, listen, I’m leaving Ajax anyway. I can sign with Arsenal, but if you want me, I’m going to Manchester United.’
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“Then I thought: ‘I shouldn’t shoot myself and United in the foot either’. He really wasn’t staying in Amsterdam, that was out of the question. Then we struck and it all worked out.”
Argentina World Cup hero Martinez subsequently completed a £55million switch to United, swiftly becoming a fan favourite at Old Trafford prior to his success in Qatar.
Arsenal, meanwhile, elected not to sign a new defender – instead giving forgotten man William Saliba a chance.
The Frenchman has been a revelation for the Gunners, playing a huge role in seeing them enter the World Cup break top of the Premier League.
In addition to Martinez, United also reunited Ten Hag with Ajax winger Antony.
After a protracted transfer saga, the winger joined the Red Devils in an eye-watering £85.5m deal.