Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has issued a formal apology following his controversial remarks that targeted the club's leadership and technical director Jason Wilcox in the aftermath of a Champions League defeat.
On Tuesday evening, after United's loss to Atletico Madrid, the Argentina international publicly criticised the club for providing head coach Michael Carrick with insufficient squad depth. According to reports from the time, Martinez told media that the club lacked ambition and did not possess the strongest squad compared to rival teams competing at the same level.
Following discussions with United's leadership on Thursday, Martinez released a statement acknowledging his error.
Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday's game. Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity. The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.
The 28-year-old centre-back has been formally disciplined for the incident. ESPN reported that Manchester United assessed disciplinary options, and a fine has been imposed as a result of the outburst.
In his initial comments following the Atletico defeat, Martinez had specifically called for greater investment in the squad and expressed frustration with the club's technical direction. He told CBS Sports that United did not possess the best squad compared with other teams and that the club needed to demonstrate more ambition in the transfer market. The defender also referenced the previous season, noting that while United had created the foundation for an exceptional team, the club had not followed through with the necessary squad investment.
Following his initial remarks, Martinez subsequently clarified that he had
spoke out of anger and frustrationand reaffirmed his
belief in my team-mates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward.
His Thursday statement further emphasised unity within the organisation.
Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognise that my words in that moment did not help with that. I know that every single person at Manchester United is doing everything possible to achieve our shared ambition: bringing the success that this club and its supporters deserve. With this situation now behind us, we are fully focused on winning together.
The incident has drawn scrutiny from former players and analysts. Roy Keane, the former Manchester United captain, described the situation at his former club as
a bit of a circuswhile discussing the matter on The Overlap podcast, highlighting concerns about the club's internal dynamics.
Club sources told The Athletic that those connected to United viewed Martinez's criticism as unprecedented, and insiders indicated that a financial penalty was considered inevitable given the nature and public profile of his comments.
What happens next for Martinez and United?
Manager Michael Carrick will hold a news conference on Friday ahead of United's fixture against Leeds United on Sunday. It remains uncertain whether Martinez will be selected for the trip to Elland Road, though the disciplinary matter is now considered resolved internally.
United's form has been concerning, with the team managing only two victories from nine games this season. The club currently sits 13th in the Premier League table with six points accumulated from six matches. The loss to Atletico extended a difficult run, as United had gone five games without a win in all competitions at the time of Martinez's outburst.
What is the status of Martinez's contract?
Significant uncertainty surrounds Martinez's long-term future at Old Trafford despite the resolution of the current disciplinary situation. His existing contract expires at the conclusion of the current season, though Manchester United retain the option to extend the agreement by an additional 12 months. The club has yet to make a decision regarding whether to activate this extension clause, meaning his future at the club remains in doubt beyond the current campaign.
