‘I felt empty, I wasn’t happy’ – Lisandro Martinez opens up on therapy experience and gives views on Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim

Lisandro Martinez has opened up on his experiences with therapy as a professional footballer, admitting he felt “empty” despite forging a successful career in the sport.

He admitted that whilst playing for Ajax, he began therapy to combat mental health issues he was experiencing.

“I’ve been in therapy since I was at Ajax,” Martinez said.

“I was always against it until I found myself at a point in my life in Amsterdam where I had everything.

“I played for a European team, I was in the national team, I had the car I always wanted, I played every weekend, and I still felt empty, like I wasn’t happy.

“It’s not an easy process. You have to have the humility to accept being a normal person. Yes, I’m a footballer, but it’s a profession, it’s a sport, and we’re all people.”

Martinez moved to Manchester United in 2022 to join his Ajax manager Erik ten Hag in the Premier League, and despite the change of scenery, added that he continued to utilise therapy to find “happiness and peace.”

“Since I started, I haven’t stopped. I understood that you shouldn’t look for anything outside but rather inside. I found happiness and peace with myself, which is priceless.”

That same year also saw Martinez achieve immense success on the international stage, winning the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar.

But success at United has yet to fully bloom for the 27-year-old, who has lifted just two domestic trophies at the club so far – the League Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024.

This last year has seen even more setbacks as the club finished in 15th place in the Premier League and missed out on a vital Champions League qualification by losing the Europa League final to Tottenham in Bilbao.

In February, Martinez’s personal season worsened as he suffered an ACL injury in a game against Crystal Palace, but is hoping to return as early as possible and make use of the “energy and willingness” that Ruben Amorim is fostering in the side.

“The club is obviously going through a process of change,” Martinez said.

“Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, they haven’t found a manager who hits the right note. Ten Hag did a remarkable job at Ajax, which is why he went to United, and thanks to him, I joined the club as well.

“It’s like everything in life, you take a gamble, and sometimes it works out well, sometimes it doesn’t.

“I think that, like any club, if something isn’t working, it needs to be changed. It’s necessary to analyse what’s working and what isn’t and make changes accordingly because that’s how great clubs operate. Manchester is one of the best clubs in the world.

“Now Ruben Amorim has arrived with very good energy and willingness. I believe he will make the necessary changes.

“Without a doubt, change is needed, because where we ended up in the table over the last two seasons is unacceptable.”