Rio Ferdinand makes preference clear in Man Utd’s Martinez-Lammens goalkeeper saga

Chirag Sharatkumar

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Rio Ferdinand makes preference clear in Man Utd’s Martinez-Lammens goalkeeper saga image

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has given his verdict on the club’s move for Senne Lammens over Emi Martinez.

United confirmed the deadline day signing of Lammens on Monday (September 1), bringing him in from Royal Antwerp for a reported £18.1m fee.

The 23-year-old Belgian penned a five-year deal at Old Trafford and joins Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir in Ruben Amorim’s goalkeeping ranks.

Lammens’ arrival came at the expense of Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, who had been keen on a switch to United more or less since the beginning of the transfer window.

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Despite making enquiries with Villa over a move, the Red Devils never lodged a formal bid, leaving Martinez in a position where he now has to reintegrate with Unai Emery’s side.

Ferdinand, however, is not entirely convinced United made the right choice.

What did Ferdinand say?

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand admitted he was initially “all in” on Martinez but said that he is willing to give Lammens the chance to prove himself.

“I’m hearing he’s [Lammens] got huge potential,” Ferdinand said.

“What I would say is, I was all in on Emi Martinez because I just think that his experience – he’s got the personality, he’s got the character, he plays for Argentina where the pressure is absolutely immense, has won a World Cup, and was one of the major reasons they won the World Cup, saving the final – these are big moments, man.

“Man United need as much personality as they need ability coming through that door, and I think he fits the bill in that sense completely.”

The former United defender also highlighted how Martinez has become a cult hero at Villa Park, praising his charisma and ability to thrive in high-pressure moments.

“I think [goalkeeping] is an area where, at the moment, there isn’t much confidence in the building at all,” Ferdinand added

“You look at [Martinez] overall, though, I think he’s been solid for Aston Villa when he’s been there.

“He’s a cult hero down that place, man. I think he’d be a cult hero at Old Trafford because he is – he’s off his nut, right? And I got a lot of time for players that are off their nut.”

Martinez vs. Lammens

Ferdinand concluded by admitting Martinez would have been his preferred option owing to his proven Premier League pedigree.

“So, like, Emi Martinez – and people are going, ‘he’s got the profile’, he’s the right age. These goalkeepers, they play till they’re 40 years old. It’s different now.

“So you’re getting a mature, ready-made, Premier League-ready goalkeeper. No, it’s true. I’d go with that.”

Nevertheless, United have opted for Lammens’ potential over Martinez’s experience, which is a gamble that could well pay off in the future.

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Chirag Sharatkumar

Chirag Sharatkumar is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, with a focus on the Premier League, international football, and global fan culture. He also has extensive experience with the Stats Perform news agency and is a keen long-form sport and culture writer and storyteller. His work can be found on the pages of MUNDIAL Magazine and across various Substack platforms.