Martinez’s long-awaited return to training marks a key moment in his United journey. Since joining from Ajax in 2022, the Argentine has become a fan favourite for his passion, defensive aggression and leadership qualities. He has made 91 appearances for the club, contributing three goals and helping United to lift both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup under Erik ten Hag.
The 26-year-old’s absence since February was deeply felt across the backline, as United often struggled with defensive consistency. During his time on the sidelines, the team Red Devils through several centre-back pairings, with Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, each taking turns to anchor the defence. Martinez’s return to full fitness promises to restore a level of composure and aggression that United have occasionally lacked, but Amorim is acutely aware that returning too quickly could risk aggravating his knee injury.
His rehabilitation at Carrington has been a long but steady process. After surgery on his ACL, Martinez spent months in individual recovery before gradually rejoining team drills. United’s medical team and Amorim’s staff have kept a close eye on his progress, and while his return to training has been hailed as a “significant step,” full match fitness is still some distance away.