Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez is facing an extended period on the sidelines following a diagnosis of a cruciate ligament injury, as confirmed by Manchester United on Thursday.

The defender was visibly upset during the match last Sunday when he had to be carried off after a collision while trying to tackle Ismaila Sarr in United’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Although the club has not specified the duration of his absence, they mentioned that “evaluation of the injury is ongoing to decide the best treatment plan and recovery timeline.”

Manchester United extended their support for Martinez, expressing wishes for his “strength and a successful recovery,” and reassured him that the club would be there for him throughout his rehabilitation process.

Last season, Martinez struggled with a series of injuries, including issues with his knee ligaments and a foot injury.

Looking ahead, Argentina is gearing up for World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil set for March. The national team currently leads the South American standings, holding a five-point advantage over Uruguay.