defender has provided an update on his injury recovery and says he is ‘100% back’ and ready to take a full part in training next month.
The Argentina international missed the end of the 2022-23 campaign after in the first leg of United’s quarter-final defeat to Sevilla in April.
There had been fears the injury could disrupt Martinez’s preparations for next season, but he has been gradually stepping up his recovery during the off-season.
Last week, the 25-year-old posted a photo from a gym session with one of United’s club physios saying he was ‘getting closer’, and now he has started ball work again.
On Saturday, Martinez uploaded a clip of him running and kicking a ball in United training garb before later tweeting: ‘So happy to be back 100%’ alongside a ‘flexing muscle’ emoji.
United’s players are expected to report back to Carrington to begin pre-season training in early July.
Martinez has been putting in the work to ensure he returns as close to full fitness as possible ahead of the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.
The Red Devils have two friendlies against Leeds and Lyon in Norway and Scotland respectively before jetting out to the USA for four high-profile friendlies against Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
United have one more friendly when they return against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin before their Premier League campaign kicks off against Wolves on August 14.
With seven friendlies to play before that game, Martinez will have plenty of time to get back up to full speed after two months on the sidelines.
Martinez enjoyed an excellent debut season in England despite some early reservations about his lack of height, but he quickly silenced his critics with a string of superb defensive displays.
Former United player Daley Blind, who also made the switch from Amsterdam to Manchester, was glowing about Martinez on the UTD Podcast recently, saying: ‘He is a great centre-back. He is so aggressive, he’s really good with his feet, he’s really good at tackling.
‘You cannot write him off just because he’s maybe not the height you expect him to be. But I think he showed himself directly that he is capable of everything in the Premier League.’
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