Lisandro Martínez apologises after criticising Manchester United hierarchy
Lisandro Martínez has apologised for criticising Manchester United’s hierarchy after the Atlético defeat, and Michael Carrick says the club has moved on before the Leeds trip.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has apologised after publicly criticising the club's hierarchy following Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid. The Argentina international met manager Michael Carrick and senior executives after training on Thursday 15 October 2026 and then posted an apology on Instagram, and by Friday Carrick was insisting the matter was closed. In this Lisandro Martínez news update we look at what he said, how the club responded and what it means before Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds United.
What Lisandro Martínez said after the Atlético Madrid defeat
The episode began in the mixed zone after United lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday 13 October. Speaking in his post-match interview, Martínez went beyond the usual analysis of a disappointing result and turned his attention to the people who build the squad. He singled out director of football Jason Wilcox and argued that United needed more signings to be able to compete at the level the club expects.
The centre-back was also asked whether he had anticipated more spending during the summer transfer window. His answer was blunt: he said he had "100 percent" expected more investment. For a senior player to point so directly at the recruitment structure, and to name one of the key figures responsible for it, was always likely to draw a reaction inside the club.
The apology: meeting with Carrick and club executives
Two days later the situation was addressed face to face. After training on Thursday, Martínez sat down with Carrick and club executives, and shortly afterwards he published a statement on Instagram. In it he wrote: "Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager," adding: "It was a very positive conversation."
The defender explained where his comments had come from, writing: "The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt." He closed with a message aimed at the dressing room and the supporters alike: "Our club is at its best when we are all united."
The tone of the statement was conciliatory rather than defiant. Martínez did not repeat his criticism of the recruitment strategy, and he framed his outburst as the product of emotion after a painful European night rather than as a considered attack on the people running the club.
Was Martínez fined?
The question of punishment is where the official and reported positions differ, so it is worth being precise:
- Club position: a club source said any internal disciplinary action would remain private.
- Reports: British media, including the BBC, reported that Martínez had been fined.
- Al Jazeera: on 16 October it said it is understood that he was fined.
Manchester United have not publicly confirmed any sanction, so the fine remains a reported detail rather than an official announcement.
Carrick: "It's done, really"
Speaking on Friday 16 October ahead of the weekend, Carrick made clear he wanted to draw a line under the affair. "It's done, really," the United manager said. "We've moved on from that." He also played down the idea that the episode had caused a rift in the squad, adding: "It is really not a drama for us as a group."
Most importantly for supporters wondering about the defender's immediate future, Carrick confirmed that Martínez will be in the squad for Sunday's Premier League game at Leeds United. There will be no exile from the matchday group, which reinforces the message that the club regards the apology as the end of the matter.
Impact on Manchester United's season and the Leeds trip
The timing of the row reflects the pressure around Old Trafford. According to Al Jazeera, United are 13th in the Premier League after six games, their worst start in 40 years. The current Premier League table on Yalla Shoot underlines how difficult the opening weeks have been:
| Team | Position | Played | W-D-L | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 13th | 6 | 1-3-2 | 9-9 | 6 |
| Leeds United | 7th | 6 | 2-3-1 | 8-5 | 9 |
| Manchester City (leaders) | 1st | 6 | 6-0-0 | 16-5 | 18 |
With just one win from six league matches, United are already 12 points behind leaders Manchester City and three behind Sunday's opponents Leeds. Goals have been shared around in attack, with Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes each on three league goals according to Yalla Shoot data, but a goal difference of zero after six rounds points to a side that has struggled to control games at both ends.
That is where Martínez matters. Comfortable on the ball and aggressive in the duel, he is one of the defenders Carrick relies on to start attacks from the back. Keeping him in the squad for Elland Road, rather than leaving him out as a disciplinary gesture, gives the manager his full range of options for a fixture United need to win to begin climbing the table.
Background: Martínez, United and the pressure on the hierarchy
Martínez joined Manchester United from Ajax in 2022 and quickly became a fan favourite for his combative style. He was also part of the Argentina squad that reached the 2026 World Cup final, so he arrives at this point in the season as an experienced international used to competing for major honours.
That background helps explain his frustration. A player who has just been involved in a World Cup final is unlikely to accept a mid-table position at a club of United's size quietly. Yet it also explains why his comments carried weight: when a senior international openly questions the recruitment of the squad, it becomes a story about the direction of the club rather than simply about one bad night in Madrid.
Carrick, a former United midfielder now in charge of the team, has opted for the approach of resolving the matter internally and quickly. By meeting the player alongside the executives, accepting his apology and then naming him in the squad, the manager has tried to stop the issue dominating the build-up to a difficult run of fixtures.
Key facts at a glance
- 13 October: United lose 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League; Martínez criticises the hierarchy and names director of football Jason Wilcox.
- 15 October: Martínez meets Carrick and executives after training, then apologises on Instagram.
- 16 October: Carrick says the club has "moved on"; reports in British media and Al Jazeera say the defender was fined, while the club keeps any discipline private.
- Sunday: Martínez is in the squad for the Premier League trip to Leeds United.
What's next for Martínez and Manchester United
The next test comes at Leeds on Sunday, where United will look to turn the page both on the field and off it. A positive result would ease some of the pressure that boiled over after the Atlético defeat, while another setback would keep questions about the squad, and about whether more signings were needed, firmly on the agenda. Follow the game on Yalla Shoot via the live scores page and keep an eye on the Manchester United team page for the latest team news.