Lisandro Martinez has attempted to walk back his public assault on Manchester United's leadership, admitting he had spoken in the heat of the moment — but offering no apology — after the club's 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
The Argentina international had rounded on United's hierarchy immediately after the loss in Madrid, directing specific criticism at technical director Jason Wilcox over the failure to strengthen the squad during the summer. Within 24 hours, a statement appeared on his Instagram account seeking to reframe those remarks.
"After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted," Martinez wrote on social media. "I know that, first and foremost, it's us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility."
The statement did not go unnoticed inside the club. There is anger and bemusement at Martinez's original outburst among United's board and within the playing squad, with at least one team-mate confronting him over what he said as players boarded the flight back to Manchester. Wilcox faces no internal pressure over his position.
United are yet to decide whether to fine Martinez. Journalist Ben Jacobs reported that his grievances were not an isolated outburst, stating that Martinez was one of multiple players unhappy with United's summer business and that his comments were backed up by others in the dressing room.
The timing is difficult for manager Michael Carrick, whose side have won just two of their nine games this season and sit 13th in the Premier League with six points from as many games. United have not won in five matches since beating Sabah in the Champions League on 10 September and were also eliminated from the EFL Cup after surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Brighton in the third round. A 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Saturday, in which United conceded in the 92nd minute, gave the club their worst start to a league season in 40 years.
Summer spending was concentrated entirely on midfield, with Carlos Baleba arriving for £70 million, Andrey Santos for £50 million and Youri Tielemans for £35 million. The previous summer saw more than £200 million spent on forwards. No defenders have joined since 2022, leaving the backline largely unchanged across multiple windows.
Martinez's future at the club is now firmly in doubt. His contract expires at the end of the season and United hold a formal option to extend it by a further year, though there are real doubts about whether that will be exercised. He had pushed for a move away from Old Trafford in the summer, and no suitable bid came in for United to consider.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand suggested on his show that history offered a grim precedent for those who speak out against the hierarchy. Ferdinand said these situations do not end well, pointing to Roy Keane departing days after speaking publicly and Cristiano Ronaldo leaving immediately after calling out individuals within the club including the manager and ownership.
Martinez remains a key part of Carrick's squad and United's board know they must handle the situation carefully. In his statement, the 28-year-old said his desire to see the club competing for the biggest honours was what drove his words, insisting his ambitions have been the same since day one. United's next fixture is the Premier League trip to Leeds on Sunday, 18 October.
Reporting: BBC Sport, Sky Sports, talkSPORT, Metro, Mirror, CaughtOffside, Daily Mail, The Guardian.