sport news MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Lisandro Martinez determined to be fit for FA Cup ... trends now
Good news is hard to find in the aftermath of United's humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, but at least fans can look forward to the return of Lisandro Martinez.
Confidential understands that Martinez has set his sights on being fit for the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on May 25 and hopes to get some minutes under his belt in the remaining three Premier League games – possibly as soon as Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The combative Argentina defender was a star of Erik ten Hag's first season in charge and has been hugely missed in his second campaign.
Martinez has made just 11 appearances after needing a second operation on a broken metatarsal and then sustained knee ligament damage against West Ham in February just four games into his comeback.
The former Ajax player's absence has been even more keenly felt because Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala have been sidelined as well.
Lisandro Martinez has endured injury misery this season but hopes to make the FA Cup final
The Argentine watches from the sidelines as United scraped into the final against Coventry
His return would represent a major boost for under-pressure United boss Erik ten Hag
Evans made his return at Palace alongside emergency centre-back Casemiro but it didn't go well as United suffered their heaviest defeat of the season.
Brailsford ready to take a step back
Sir Dave Brailsford has been at the forefront of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Old Trafford revolution since the Ineos billionaire invested in United, but Confidential understands that the former Great Britain cycling supremo is preparing to take a more withdrawn role.
Brailsford became Ratcliffe's eyes and ears around the club after the £1.3billion deal was announced at Christmas, liaising with manager Erik ten Hag, coaches and staff around the training ground as he looked at ways Ineos could improve the whole operation.
He has held a number of one-on-one meetings with the players who have been impressed with his approach, according to sources.
They say that Brailsford comes across as a good listener and someone who is committed to creating a positive environment.
The 60-year-old Ineos sporting director has made it clear, however, that he plans to return to his base in Monaco in September which will enable him to have more involvement with Nice, the French club also owned by Ratcliffe.
Sir Dave Brailsford (left, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe) is to take a step back from United duties
It's understood the timing could depend on Dan Ashworth's arbitration battle with Newcastle which will determine how soon he can start work as United's new sporting director.
Brailsford has been largely filling that role, in much the same way that Ineos chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc is acting as the club's CEO until Omar Berrada begins his new job on July 13.
United in the market to sell Mason
It is easy to lose track of the amount of things United need to sort this summer, such is the scale of the task at hand.
But Confidential has learned that staff at the club were recently told in a briefing that selling Mason Greenwood is United's No 1 priority.
The 22-year-old has been out on a season-long loan at Getafe in LaLiga and has managed 10 goals and six assists from 32 appearances.
United badly need to bolster their attack and ease the goalscoring burden on Rasmus Hojlund – but Greenwood is not seen as the answer, with United eager to sell.
Getafe are keen to secure another loan deal but United are likely to shop the young striker around given his return to form.
Charges of attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour – Greenwood denied all of the charges – were discontinued against him in February 2023 and United
