Man United Weigh Martinez Discipline After Board Criticism

Manchester United are weighing disciplinary action against Lisandro Martinez after the Argentina defender publicly criticised the club’s board and director of football Jason Wilcox following Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Martinez, 28, spoke to broadcasters at the stadium after the loss and placed responsibility for United’s problems at executive level. The centre-back also repeated his complaints in further television appearances, escalating a row that has angered senior figures at Old Trafford.

Quick facts

Martinez could receive a significant fine over his post-match comments.
United are also considering leaving him out of the side for Sunday’s trip to Leeds United.
His current contract runs to 2027, with the club holding an option for a further year.
Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba joined for a combined £155 million.
United lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The defender’s criticism centred on United’s recruitment and the level of the current squad. Despite the major spending on Tielemans, Santos and Baleba, Martinez believes the group lacks enough top-end quality to compete for the biggest prizes.

There is wider frustration over a transfer window in which United missed several leading targets. The club also chose not to add another striker despite concerns over Benjamin Sesko’s fitness record, leaving the squad short in key areas.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea each spent more than United in the latest market, adding to unease within the dressing room. Wilcox has overseen a difficult spell and had previously clashed with former manager Ruben Amorim before Amorim’s sudden departure.

Martinez’s future is now under greater scrutiny. A new agreement beyond 2027 appears increasingly unlikely after his public confrontation with the hierarchy, even though United can activate an extension through 2028.

A summer departure could become an option as United seek funds, while an eventual free transfer remains another possibility if no new deal is reached. For now, the immediate decision is whether Martinez remains involved at Elland Road.

United face Leeds on Sunday with head coach Michael Carrick already under serious pressure after a poor opening to the campaign. Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte have been linked with the job as Carrick searches for the win that could ease the noise around Old Trafford.

Victory at Leeds is essential for Carrick, but the Martinez situation threatens to dominate the build-up. United must decide whether to punish the defender financially, remove him from the starting side, or potentially leave him out of the matchday squad altogether.