MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Lisandro Martinez determined to be fit for FA Cup final after season of injury hell… as Dave Brailsford prepares to take a step back at Old Trafford

Good news is hard to come by in the wake of United’s humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, but fans can at least look forward to the return of Lisandro Martinez.

Confidential understands Martinez has his sights set on being fit for the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on May 25 and hopes to get some minutes under his belt in the remaining three Premier League games – possibly once Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The combative Argentinian defender was a star in Erik ten Hag’s first season and was sorely missed in his second season.

Martinez made just 11 appearances after requiring a second operation on a broken metatarsal and then suffered knee ligament damage against West Ham in February, just four games after his comeback.

The former Ajax player’s absence is felt even more acutely because Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala are also sidelined.

Evans made his return to Palace together with central defender Casemiro, but that did not go well as United suffered their heaviest defeat of the season.

Brailsford is ready to take a step back

Sir Dave Brailsford has been at the forefront of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Old Trafford revolution since the Ineos billionaire invested in United, but Confidential understands the former British cycling great is preparing for a more withdrawn role.

Brailsford became Ratcliffe’s eyes and ears at the club after the £1.3 billion deal was announced at Christmas, liaising with manager Erik ten Hag, coaches and training ground staff as he looked at how Ineos could run the whole operation improve.

According to sources, he has had a number of one-on-one meetings with the players who were impressed with his approach.

They say Brailsford comes across as a good listener and someone who is committed to creating a positive environment.

However, the 60-year-old Ineos sporting director has made it clear that he plans to return to his base in Monaco in September, which will allow him to have more involvement with Nice, the French club also owned by Ratcliffe .

It is understood the timing could depend on Dan Ashworth’s arbitration battle with Newcastle, which will determine how quickly he can take over as United’s new sporting director.

Brailsford have largely filled that role, in much the same way that Ineos CEO Jean-Claude Blanc is acting as the club’s CEO until Omar Berrada starts his new job on July 13.

United in the market to sell Mason

It’s easy to lose sight of how many things United have to sort out this summer, such is the magnitude of the task ahead.

But Confidential has learned that club staff were recently told in a briefing that selling Mason Greenwood is United’s No. 1 priority.

The 22-year-old is on loan at Getafe in LaLiga for a season and has scored ten goals and six assists in 32 appearances.

United desperately need to strengthen their attack and ease the goal-scoring burden on Rasmus Hojlund – but Greenwood is not seen as the answer as United are keen to sell.

Getafe are keen to secure a new loan deal but United are likely to buy the young striker given his return to form.

Charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behavior – Greenwood denied all charges – were dropped against him in February 2023 and United initially appeared intent on reintegrating him.

A fierce backlash from supporters and leading women’s charities saw the club reverse that decision and a group of staff have since been told that selling Greenwood, rather than bringing him back after his loan, is their top priority this summer.

Goals elusive for Mount

Nine months after signing for Chelsea, Mason Mount has still not been on the pitch for one Manchester United goal in the Premier League matches he has started.

Mount was picked by Ten Hag to make the £55m move but his debut season was blighted by injury.

Monday’s 4-0 humiliation at Crystal Palace was only the fifth league match he has started for the club.

In three of these, at Tottenham and home and away against Palace, United failed to score at all.

In his other two starts, at home to Wolves on the opening weekend and at home to Brentford, Mount had already been substituted by the time United found the net.

So many names are being talked about as European Championship contenders, but Mount isn’t mentioned at all despite being a starter for Gareth Southgate in the last final against Italy.

Onana’s dress gift for children

Andre Onana makes good use of his Manchester United goalkeepers’ jerseys; he uses it to make hospital gowns for children.

United’s No.1 visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital last week when he surprised a number of children and their parents on the wards with signed shirts and their new hospital gowns.

Onana is said to have played games and taken pictures with sick children for an hour.

The gowns are designed to make children more comfortable in hospital and to create some positivity during what can sometimes be a difficult time.

The Andre Onana Foundation is committed to providing free medical care to disadvantaged communities in Africa, but the Cameroon international has shown an interest in helping children in Manchester since joining United from Inter Milan last year, and came up with the dress project .

Gala no-go for sub Bayindir

There was much confusion in United circles when they discovered that a gala dinner in the city center on Monday evening advertised the presence of three players from the squad.

Human Appeal and the Papiss Cisse Foundation organized a black tie event at the Hilton Hotel and announced in advance that Altay Bayindir, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof were among the ‘confirmed’ attendees.

A confused Confidant put this to United, who were left baffled – especially as Bayindir would be on the bench at Crystal Palace.

Considering how humiliating the night at Selhurst Park was, a red carpet at the Hilton would have been a much better option for the back-up goalkeeper.

Scouts rule Sousa

United had scouts in Portugal on Saturday to watch FC Porto win 3-0 at Chaves.

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that 17-year-old winger Goncalo Sousa made his first-team debut as a substitute in the 83rd minute.

The exciting young winger has attracted a lot of interest from across Europe with his performances in the UEFA Youth League, and that is only set to increase as he steps up to the senior side.

Cup glory for rising star Gabriel

What a few weeks it has been for Under-13 star Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel.

The youngster, who will team up with Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. in 2022. at United, scored an extra-time winner this weekend to fire the Under-14s to glory in the Albert Phelan Cup North.

While Kai Rooney scored a crucial goal in the semi-final, Gabriel was the hero in the final, which was held at Aston Villa’s training ground.

He was recently given the opportunity to warm up with the Under-18s ahead of their Premier League Cup final against Manchester City.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the youngster, who has 62,200 followers on his Instagram page and is also a Nike athlete.

Given his ability to continue playing above his age group, the sky is the limit.