LISANDRO MARTINEZ brutally trolled Adama Traore after Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Fulham on the opening night at Old Trafford.
The Argentine and Spaniard were locked in several intense tussles that saw the players get the better of each other in the first half.
Lisandro Martinez and Adama Traore battled it out for 80 minutes
The Argentine joked that he sent the Fulham winger ‘to the gym’ after United’s late win
Traore is known for his massive physique
But Martinez won the war as new striker Joshua Zirkzee rose from the bench to slot home in the 87th minute and give United their first nervy victory of the new campaign.
Before kick-off, commentator Rob Hawthorne referred to Martinez’s pending battle with Traore as a “mismatch” due to the sheer size and speed of the Fulham winger.
The World Cup winner was initially alarmed when Traore raced past him to get into a good position as the West London side started strongly.
But Martinez – nicknamed “The Butcher” by the United faithful – ensured it never happened again after toppling the man mountain during their next battle.
Next time Traore tried to go past him he was wholly unsuccessful as Martinez won the ball with ease and left the winger on the deck.
Looking at footage of the Traore on the floor, Martinez told Sky Sports: “I sent him to the gym.
“I learned from the first one where he killed me, I killed him back.”
Before adding: “He is difficult to play against and I learned from the first situation.”
The Argentine put in an impressive performance as he helped his side to a clean sheet.
His best moment came when he cleared the ball for a corner from two yards out in the 80th minute – stopping a nailed on Fulham goal.
Martinez also made a light-hearted dig at Jamie Carragher in his post-match interview.
The Liverpool legend repeatedly hit out at the defender in 2022, claiming the 5ft 9in defender would struggle after he arrived in the Prem.
Gary Neville asked him: “When you first came there were a lot of comments about you because of the physicality of this league, how have you found it?”
“You mean from him,” replied Martinez, as he pointed at Carragher.
The former Anfield centre-back immediately took the chance to walk over to Martinez to measure him up – and found their height difference minimal.
In fact, in an awkward exchange, as the pair stood side-to-side a stunned Carragher admitted: “He’s bigger than me!”
Carragher asked if Martinez was worried about the physicality of the English game and got a defiant response.
He declared: “I know that I’m not really tall, but I will win.”
Martinez and Harry Maguire began the game as United’s central defenders, with Leny Yoro, a £52 million summer acquisition, sidelined by a foot ailment.
In the last ten minutes, Matthijs De Ligt, another recent arrival, came off the bench as United pressed for a goal.