Lisandro Martinez has had something of a topsy-turvy career at Manchester United.

Amid years of questionable transfer decisions at Old Trafford, he has emerged as a rare success, earning the moniker 'The Butcher' for his fierce and uncompromising defensive style. Yet, since his arrival from Ajax, persistent fitness struggles have hindered his impact.

Similarly, United's on-field performances have fluctuated from dismal to impressive and back again, further thwarting Martinez's effectiveness. Things, generally, are looking up under new manager Ruben Amorim, but as Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth proved, consistency is still a major issue for the club.

READ MORE: 'We have to accept it' - Lisandro Martinez explains how Manchester United players can improve

READ MORE: 'We're playing so well' - Lisandro Martinez reacts after Manchester United defeat vs Bournemouth

The result, which was the Red Devils' fourth defeat in six games, means they'll be in the bottom half of the table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1989.

With Martinez and co. presumably begging for 2024 to end, MEN is delving into the defender's storied stint in Manchester - looking at everything from his injury troubles, his run-ins with team-mates, and his thoughts on the manager, to his beef with a Sky Sports pundit.

Message to fans

Keen to address the torrid state of play following United's hammering at the hands of Bournemouth on Sunday, Martinez sent a defiant message to supporters after the game. He admitted he was "angry" with his side's performance but insisted he believed in his team-mates and the coaching staff and encouraged fans to trust the process.

"I always say in this kind of situation we have to show personality and character. We are playing so well and unfortunately, we couldn't score today. We have to believe," he said.

"At this club, we have to win every game and we know that. We are so angry with this kind of situation. We have to work on set-pieces especially. I believe a lot in this team and staff."

He added: "We know how big it is at this club. The expectation is very high, it's a process and you can see we are playing so well but we also concede goals and we have to work on that. I know the fans are impatient with us. We are the only ones who can change it. It's football and we have to accept it.

"We are 100 per cent confident that we will get success in this club. It's a process, I don't want to point the finger at one player. We win together, we lose together. It is a big pressure but we love that. I believe a lot in this group."

Apology

Martinez isn't one to shirk responsibility when things go south. Case in point: his reaction to the club's 3-0 defeat by Tottenham in September.

It was a tough day at the races for United, who lost Bruno Fernandes to a red card during the first half. Evidently, though, the one-man disadvantage wasn't enough of an excuse for Martinez.

After the game, the 26-year-old circled the Old Trafford pitch, thanking fans for their support as they left the ground. Every now and again, he raised his hands and bowed his head apologetically. The gesture was certainly appreciated, particularly since many of his team-mates headed straight for the tunnel once the match had finished.

Opinion of Amorim

As his comments after the Bournemouth defeat suggest, Martinez is a big fan of Amorim's. Despite being signed by the Portuguese coach's predecessor, Erik ten Hag, Martinez appears to have taken an immediate liking to his new boss.

Ahead of the club's 2-1 win over Manchester City this month, he praised Amorim for bringing passion and energy back to the dressing room and fostering a healthily competitive atmosphere. "He's been working really well," the Argentina international said.

"I think he demands what the club demands, which is good. I like his passion, his energy, the way he wants to play in possession and defending. And also the staff, the energy around the team. It's all good.

"His way is the way I like to play - the passion, the energy you know. If you have that with me, it's like you connect quickly. So the coach has brought many good things and, yeah, that’s good for everyone."

A couple of weeks earlier, Martinez admitted that he and Amorim share a footballing ethos - something which sparked an instant connection between the pair. "It [Amorim's style of play] the way I like to play, the way of playing football: the passion, the energy," he told United's website.

"You know, if you have that with me, it's like you connect quickly. He has many, many good things. I think he demands what the club demands, which is good. I like his passion, his energy, the way he wants to play - good in possession, in defending. I think he's good - also the staff, the energy around [the place], it [has been] so good, yeah."

Trouble with Garnacho

It hasn't all been instant connections and happy families since Amorim arrived, however. Following United's 3-2 defeat by Nottingham Forest earlier this month, Alejandro Garnacho 'liked' a critical social media post about Martinez - who was blamed for Forest's opening goal after being outjumped by Nikola Milenkovic.

The post read: "Unfortunately Lisandro Martinez got beat in the air," beside a photo of the United defender losing an aerial duel to Milenkovic. Shortly after, the user uploaded a screenshot showing a notification that Garnacho had liked the post.

Some speculated that it was a mistake on Garnacho's behalf, particularly since Martinez is an international team-mate of his. But the young forward does have previous with this sort of thing.

He caused a stir back in September after appearing to like a post from Fabrizio Romano detailing Cristiano Ronaldo's criticism of Ten Hag. Garnacho was subsequently dropped for United's next game, and while it was reported that the decision to do so was tactical, many fans thought otherwise.

Carragher beef

Martinez hit the ground running when he joined United in 2022, but it took him a while to win certain people over. Jamie Carragher, for one, insisted the 5ft 9in Argentine was too small to cut it as an elite Premier League centre-back and stuck to his guns for weeks despite a truck-load of evidence to the contrary.

"I think he's a good player. I wouldn't want a centre-back who was 5ft 9in in my team. I would not," Carragher said on The Overlap in September 2022 after being asked if he'd changed his opinion of Martinez, who'd started the season strongly.

"For a defender to be 5ft 9in and play, never mind in the Premier League, at any level of football, he's got to be a good player. Because that is not normal. His passing is very good, he looks aggressive. He looks like a leader. He's not a bad player, but to play at that level of football at 5ft 9in - I wouldn't want to play alongside someone who was 5ft 9in as a centre-back.

In August this year, Martinez exacted a little revenge. After helping United seal a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham, the defender briefly joined Carragher and ex-United skipper Gary Neville during their post-match analysis of the tie on Sky Sports.

Neville asked him: "When you first came to the Premier League there were a lot of comments about you because of the physicality of this league, how have you found it?" In response, Martinez pointed at Carragher and asked: "You mean from him?"

The Liverpool legend took it in good spirits and even joked that Martinez was, in fact, taller than he was. After sharing a laugh with the broadcasters, Martinez added: "As a player you are ready for everything, it is part of our job.

"If you play badly, especially at this club, then you are ready for criticism. I was ready for that, the first two games I did not play well but I took responsibility."

Despite appearing to bury the hatchet, Carragher risked reopening their 'feud' by sticking the knife into Martinez after United's 4-3 defeat by Tottenham last week. "I think a worry for United fans is Lisandro Martinez," he said.

"I didn't think he'd play well in a back four because he's small, but he had a really good first season. In some ways you'd think he'd be suited to a back three, he can step out on his left foot and he's got two big defenders next to him. But I don't think he's looked as comfortable since Amorim came in. He had a really poor night."

Injury woes

Martinez's ruthless playing style might strike fear into the hearts of Premier League forwards, but his fitness record strikes fear into the hearts of United fans and members of the coaching staff. Since joining the Red Devils, he's missed 56 games for club and country through injury, according to transfermarkt.

He has an unblemished record so far this season. But after enduring four significant injuries in just two-and-a-half years, it's understandable that many remain sceptical about his ability to stay fit.

He played just 14 times in all competitions last season after picking up three separate injuries during the campaign. A mere month after recovering from a foot problem - that kept him out of action for four months - Martinez injured his knee in a clash with West Ham.

The defender looked distraught, and several of his team-mates sped over to comfort him as he lay in pain on the turf. After the game, he penned an emotional message to fans, promising to come back stronger than ever.

"I want to give a heartfelt thanks for the great support I've received and to reassure you that I'll soon be back out there, and we'll fight together," he wrote. "Always United!"