Official travels for Manchester United player – Pochettino may be about to ruin transfer

Barcelona scout watched Lisandro Martínez in Argentina's friendly; Pochettino's appointment may complicate any January exit.

Barcelona are monitoring Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez ahead of a potential move next year. The 28-year-old centre-back, whose contract expires at the end of this season with only an optional extension, has expressed frustration with the club's transfer activity and is keen to leave Old Trafford.

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are both tracking the Argentina international. A Barcelona scout attended Martínez's full 90-minute performance in Argentina's 2-1 friendly defeat to Uruguay at River Plate's stadium in Buenos Aires on Friday, with the club also monitoring Cagliari's Juan Rodríguez as a longer-term alternative.

However, Manchester United's appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as manager could prove a significant obstacle. The newspaper suggests the new boss, himself Argentine, may block his compatriot's January departure and attempt to convince him to stay.