The defender is available for Sunday’s game after clear-the-air talks with Michael Carrick and senior club figures, but the head coach has not said whether he will play.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has apologised to the club, its fans and his team-mates after criticising the club’s hierarchy in an interview following Tuesday’s defeat by Atletico Madrid. BBC Sport reports that he has been fined but made available for Sunday’s trip to Leeds. Whether he starts at Elland Road is Carrick’s decision, and the head coach is expected to speak at a press conference on Friday. Kick-off is at 2pm BST.
The interview and the fallout
Speaking after the 2-0 defeat in Madrid, Martinez complained about United’s lack of activity in the summer transfer market and criticised his team-mates’ effort levels at the Metropolitano. It was reported that the squad took the remarks badly, and that at least one player confronted him on the flight back to Manchester. There was speculation he could be dropped for the Leeds game as punishment.
He has since held talks with Carrick, director of football Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada. In a statement on Instagram, he wrote: “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.”
He added: “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.”
Several outlets report that he has been fined. United have not disclosed any penalty, and are reported to regard the matter as closed after his meetings. The fine is separate from Carrick’s decision on selection.
Tension inside the squad
An exclusive report published on Thursday evening said United’s players cancelled a team dinner planned for that day after the defeat in Spain. There is no confirmation that Martinez’s interview caused it. United have now gone five matches without a win.
Reporting also suggests Martinez was particularly frustrated that young defender Ayden Heaven had to play at left-back in Madrid, which highlighted a lack of cover in that position. Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu are all injured. The suggestion is that his anger may have been prompted partly by those problems, and not only by transfer spending.
The Guardian reported that several team-mates share his concerns about recruitment, even if they disliked how he voiced them. United spent about £155m in the summer on three midfielders, Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, but failed to land their preferred left-back, Newcastle’s Lewis Hall.
Pundits and his future
Former United captain Wayne Rooney questioned why Martinez gave such a critical interview straight after a Champions League defeat, and argued that publicly criticising the leadership was unhelpful when the team needed to stay united. He suggested the comments might not have been entirely spontaneous. Jamie Carragher also criticised them. Neither has shown that Martinez planned the interview.
The 28-year-old is reportedly still interested in leaving when his contract expires in summer 2027, possibly for another leading European club. United have an option to extend it by a year, and he would reportedly prefer they did not use it. No agreement with another club has been announced, and his apology does not necessarily settle his long-term position.
Carrick under pressure
United have taken six points from six Premier League games, reportedly their worst start in about 40 years, and sit 13th. Speculation about possible replacements has continued, but reports indicate the club’s ownership still backs Carrick.
