Patrice Evra aims brutal dig at former Arsenal player while praising Lisandro Martinez

Patrice Evra aimed a dig at former Arsenal man Per Mertesacker while praising Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez.

The defender’s £55million transfer initially raised eyebrows, given the Argentine became the shortest centre-back in Premier League history.

Evra praises Martinez

"It’s because of his fighting spirit. That’s what United fans want to see – those players have to bleed for the shirt.

"People were talking about his height and I was laughing. Some people said I was too small when I arrived in the Premier League as well. When you play with that heart and passion, size doesn’t matter.”

Martinez certainly plays with passion, having been nicknamed the ‘Butcher of Amsterdam' for his aggressive style of play while at Ajax.

Evra added: "When he gets the ball, he is so clean and composed.

"Mexico were pressing everywhere but every time he got the ball he was calm and playing forward. That’s what I love."

Evra slams Mertesaker

Evra said: "[Martinez] doesn’t play those one-metre balls to the next player. This is easy.

"When I see those stats – I remember Mertesacker at Arsenal, the stats said he never lost the ball – but he was passing it one metre, I can do that every day.

"But Martinez puts the ball through the lines like Michael Carrick. That’s what he does and I love that. What a player, what a player."