The Athletic reported yesterday that Arsenal have made their opening offer to sign versatile Ajax star Lisandro Martinez this summer, and the defender has two interesting nicknames.

The report claimed that the Gunners bid £25.7 million to sign the Argentine, who is apparently keen to move to the Emirates. Today, the Daily Mail claimed that Arsenal have returned with an improved offer to sign the 24-year-old after their first bid was rejected. The number on the table is reportedly £30 million now.

Martinez has been at Ajax for three years and he is known for his aggressive style of defending. That has attracted a couple of interesting nicknames for the Argentine, but he’s not too pleased with one of them.

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Arsenal target Lisandro Martinez has two nicknames

Martinez’s style of play after he joined Ajax in 2019 has led to people calling him ‘The Butcher’. The defender is not really a fan of that one, and he revealed that he actually prefers the nickname he was given by fans in his home country – Pitbull!

He once said in an interview: “When I’m on the field, I forget the world around me and want to win at all costs. Yet the comparison (to a butcher) is not entirely correct.

“I also have to rely on my technique. I will never consciously injure an opponent.

“In Argentina, they called me The Pitbull. That covers my playing style better. I bite into my opponent.”

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Do we even need the Argentine?

Arsenal currently have Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding and William Saliba as options at the back, while Takehiro Tomiyasu can also comfortably feature in the heart of the defence.

That does make you wonder why we’re reportedly willing to splash £30 million on Martinez, but signing him really does make sense.

The Argentine, still only 24, can play at centre-half and at left-back. He has even filled in as a defensive midfielder in the past, which makes him an excellent option to have.

Furthermore, with Pablo Mari set to be sold, Gabriel will be our only left-footed option in central defence. That explains why Arteta is so keen on Martinez, and he really would be a fantastic signing for us.

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