Ruben Amorim has barely unpacked his bags in Milan and already the rumor mill is churning. The Portuguese coach was officially introduced as AC Milan’s new manager earlier this week, and according to multiple reports, he’s wasting no time trying to bring familiar faces with him.
The list of Manchester United players linked to a San Siro switch keeps growing. Manuel Ugarte, who followed Amorim from Sporting CP to United, was reportedly on Milan’s radar early in the summer window. But that idea pretty much died when Ugarte tore up his knee at the World Cup. He’s not going anywhere.
Then over the weekend, word broke that Mason Mount had been offered to Milan. Amorim is said to be keen on the English midfielder. But now there’s a defender in the mix too.
According to MilanNews reporter Antonio Vitiello, Amorim is “crazy” about two center-backs: Sporting’s Gonçalo Inacio and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez.
Why Martinez makes sense for Amorim
Martinez was one of the few defenders Amorim truly trusted during his bumpy tenure at Old Trafford. Even with all the injuries — and there have been a lot — the Argentine was usually in the lineup when healthy. His ability to play out from the back, absorb pressure, and ping passes through the lines made him a natural fit for Amorim’s system.
The thing is, Martinez has 12 months left on his contract at United. There’s an option for another year, but that kind of uncertainty tends to get clubs talking. Milan’s brass has already shown it’s serious about backing Amorim — they agreed to a club-record deal for PSG striker Goncalo Ramos. So a Martinez pursuit wouldn’t be totally out of left field.
But United might not let him go
Here’s where it gets complicated. United’s own defensive situation is shaky. Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt both have worrying injury histories. And while the club’s priority is shoring up the midfield this summer, INEOS isn’t likely to green-light a departure in defense unless they bring someone in first.
Michael Carrick, now running things at United, seems to have settled on Harry Maguire and Martinez as his preferred center-back pairing. The left-footed Argentinian is still the team’s most composed presence during buildup. That matters. He’s also looked rock-solid for Argentina during the ongoing World Cup in North America.
So yeah, Milan wants him. United probably doesn’t want to sell. And Martinez hasn’t exactly asked out. But in the transfer market, contracts with 12 months left are often the starting line, not the finish.
Something to watch as the summer drags on.
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