Man Utd star's honest Ruben Amorim thoughts as he lifts lid on not being happy
Lisandro Martinez has opened up about his struggles with mental health and his journey to finding peace, while also sharing his thoughts on Ruben Amorim. In a candid interview, the Manchester United defender revealed how therapy transformed his life, offering a rare glimpse into the personal challenges faced by a Premier League footballer.
Martinez, who has endured a series of injury setbacks since joining United in 2022, admitted that his mental health took a hit during his time in the Netherlands. "I've been in therapy since I was at Ajax," he told Clank Media.
"I was always against it until I found myself at a point in my life in Amsterdam where I had everything... I played for a European team, I was in the national team, I had the car I always wanted, I played every weekend, and I still felt empty, like I wasn't happy.
"It's not an easy process. You have to have the humility to accept being a normal person. Yes, I'm a footballer, but it's a profession, it's a sport, and we're all people."
Therapy, he explained, helped him shift his perspective. "Since I started, I haven't stopped," Martinez continued. "I understood that you shouldn't look for anything outside but rather inside. I found happiness and peace with myself, which is priceless."
His reflections on his upbringing in Gualeguay, Argentina, paint a picture of resilience forged in adversity. "I come from a very poor background," he shared. "I know what it is to struggle, to be hungry, cold, hot. Did I go hungry? Yes.
"From a very young age, we were a very large family. Three families lived together, my grandparents, my uncles and cousins, all on the same plot of land." Meals were sparse, often just tea and bread for dinner, but Martinez looks back with gratitude.
"Maybe without that, today I wouldn't be who I am," he said. "What percentage of chances are there for a kid from Gualeguay, from the neighbourhood I came from, to get to where I am today?"
Injuries may have slowed him down, but Martinez has been on an upward curve ever since turning pro in 2016. After sealing a career-launching move to Ajax in 2019, the centre back - who has regularly been written off due to his small stature - starred as the club won back-to-back Eredivisie titles in 2021 and 2022.
Shortly after following Erik ten Hag to Old Trafford, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by lifting the World Cup with Argentina. Success at United has been limited to a couple of domestic cup wins, but when fit, Martinez has proven himself to be up to the challenge.
Ten Hag's departure in 2024 cast doubt over the 27-year-old's future in Manchester, particularly with his unconvincing injury record. But Martinez, who was sidelined again with an ACL injury in February, says he has a good relationship with new head coach Amorim, who has brought "energy and willingness" to the squad.
"The club is obviously going through a process of change," he said. "Since Six Alex Ferguson's departure, they haven't found a manager who hits the right note. Ten Hag did a remarkable job at Ajax, which is why he went to United, and thanks to him, I joined the club as well.
"It's like everything in life: you take a gamble, and sometimes it works out well, sometimes it doesn't. I think that, like any club, if something isn't working, it needs to be changed. It's necessary to analyse what's working and what isn't and make changes accordingly because that's how great clubs operate. Manchester is one of the best clubs in the world.
"Now Ruben Amorim has arrived with very good energy and willingness. I believe he will make the necessary changes. Without a doubt change is needed, because where we ended up in the table over the last two seasons is unacceptable."
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