Lisandro Martínez has openly criticised Manchester United’s hierarchy, arguing that the club should have invested more heavily in the squad after securing Champions League qualification last season.
The Argentine defender spoke out following United’s 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, a result that extended their winless run to five matches and increased the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick.
United have struggled for consistency this season, managing just two victories in their opening nine matches. Their most recent win came against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on September 10, while their other success was a comeback victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.
The disappointing run has raised fresh questions about the club’s direction, particularly after last season’s third-place Premier League finish secured their return to the Champions League for the first time in three years.
Carrick was rewarded with a permanent two-year contract after winning 12 of his 17 matches as interim manager following Ruben Amorim’s departure in January. However, Martínez believes the club’s progress on the pitch should have been matched by greater investment in the transfer market.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the defeat in Madrid, the defender made his frustration clear.
“We had a fantastic season last season, and now we expect more from the top,” Martínez said. “We need more players to compete because other teams are also bringing in players.
“Atlético have an amazing team, and they deserved to win today.
“I expect more investment. One hundred per cent. I expect more from our technical director, Jason Wilcox.”
Although Martínez acknowledged that the players must take responsibility for their performances, he insisted that the club’s recruitment decisions also deserved scrutiny.
“As players, we have to do more, but it is also important to build a strong squad so that we are ready for nights like this,” he added.
“Tonight, it is easy to blame the coach or the players, but we also have to look at other areas.”
Manchester United’s recruitment under scrutiny
Martínez’s comments have reignited the debate surrounding Manchester United’s summer transfer business, particularly the decision to focus almost exclusively on strengthening the midfield.
United invested approximately £155 million in three midfielders but did not address every position that had been identified as needing improvement.
The lack of additional striking options to support Benjamin Šeško and the absence of a new left-back to provide competition for Luke Shaw have both attracted criticism.
For a club competing in the Premier League and Champions League, squad depth can prove decisive during a demanding season. Martínez believes United should have done more to ensure they could compete with Europe’s strongest teams.
The defender’s criticism also comes at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chief executive Omar Berrada are facing growing scrutiny over the club’s sporting decisions.
Both were present at the Metropolitano Stadium for Tuesday’s defeat, with Ratcliffe seated alongside Berrada as United’s difficult run continued.
The club’s recent managerial history has also raised questions about its long-term strategy. Erik ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024 after receiving backing in the transfer market that summer, while Amorim was shown the door in January 2026.
Martínez believes repeatedly changing managers will not solve the club’s problems if other areas remain unaddressed.
“You cannot keep changing the manager again and again,” he said. “What about the other areas? I cannot say more.
“Last season, we did everything. We created the foundation for an amazing team.”
His remarks echo criticism previously made by Tottenham defender Cristian Romero, who questioned his club’s board last season. Ironically, Romero featured for Atlético against United following his move to Spain during the summer.
Meanwhile, Martínez has only one year remaining on his Manchester United contract, and no extension has yet been agreed.
Wayne Rooney warns Martínez’s comments could divide the dressing room
Not everyone agreed with the Argentine’s decision to criticise the club publicly.
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney and ex-defender Ashley Young both questioned the timing and potential consequences of Martínez’s comments, warning that they could create unnecessary tension within the dressing room.
Rooney was particularly concerned that the defender’s words could be interpreted as criticism of his teammates rather than the club’s recruitment strategy.
“Something like that will rip that dressing room apart,” Rooney said.
The former England captain drew comparisons with his own public criticism of Manchester United in 2010, which led to a confrontation with then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Rooney later acknowledged that he had made a mistake and apologised.
He believes Martínez should have handled his concerns privately rather than expressing them immediately after a disappointing result.
“It is disrespectful to his teammates,” Rooney explained. “He is saying his teammates are not good enough.
“Bruno Fernandes is the only one with any right to say that. These conversations happen behind closed doors, but that interview is not going to help.”
Rooney also questioned whether Martínez had genuinely helped his teammates by speaking on their behalf.
“He has tried to speak for the players, but he has done it the wrong way. It looks like a player trying to look after himself.
“You need everyone to stick together. You need to be united as one.”
Young shared similar concerns, arguing that recruitment problems should not distract from the players’ responsibility to deliver better performances.
“We know recruitment has to work and be better, but the players have to be better too,” he said. “They are the ones who have to produce.”
Young added that the timing of the interview could create further distractions during a week when the club needed to focus on recovering from its latest defeat.
Alan Shearer believes Carrick has been let down
Former England striker Alan Shearer offered a different perspective, suggesting that Carrick had not received the support he needed.
United’s defeat in Madrid was particularly frustrating because the team had shown signs of improvement compared with their disappointing performance against Tottenham at the weekend.
However, conceding inside the opening minute immediately put them under pressure and highlighted the defensive problems that continue to undermine their efforts.
The result also extended United’s winless run to five matches, their first such sequence since the 2024-25 season, when both Ten Hag and Amorim experienced similar difficulties.
Carrick remains under considerable pressure, but Martínez’s intervention has shifted some of the attention towards Wilcox and the club’s recruitment strategy.
Wilcox’s role as director of football is increasingly being questioned, while decisions made by Ratcliffe and Berrada since their arrival have also attracted criticism.
The dismissal of respected executive Dan Ashworth in December 2024, just five months after his appointment as sporting director, has added to concerns about the consistency of the club’s leadership.
Ratcliffe has also faced criticism over ticket-price increases and the club’s approach to season-ticket holders. Some supporters have argued that these decisions risk alienating loyal fans.
Financial concerns have added another dimension to the debate. United’s overall debt has been reported at approximately £1.1 billion, while plans for a new 100,000-capacity stadium, expected to cost more than £2 billion, have prompted questions about the club’s spending priorities.
Some supporters believe more resources should have been directed towards strengthening the playing squad, particularly given United’s inconsistent record in qualifying for the Champions League since Ferguson retired in 2013.
Carrick responds cautiously to Martínez’s criticism
Carrick was asked about Martínez’s interview shortly after the match but chose not to react directly to the defender’s comments.
The United head coach said he had only heard part of the interview and suggested that emotions following the defeat may have influenced what was said.
“I have not seen the interview. I have half heard about it,” Carrick explained.
“Straight after the game is not the time to talk about that interview, and I cannot really comment on it. It is important for us to move forward quickly.”
Carrick also defended the unity within his squad, insisting that the players remained committed despite their disappointing results.
“As a group, I do not doubt the togetherness or our desire to win,” he said. “Results-wise, it is easy to look at things and think there is something deeply wrong, but the players have been great in their willingness.”
When asked whether he intended to speak with Martínez about the interview, Carrick said he needed to understand the situation more clearly before deciding how to respond.
“I need to find out a bit more about it before I can say whether anything is going to be done,” he added.
Manchester United fans divided over Martínez’s comments
The defender’s interview has also sparked debate among supporters, with many agreeing that the club’s recruitment strategy deserves greater scrutiny, while others believe the players should concentrate on improving their performances.
Some fans praised Martínez for saying publicly what they believe has been discussed among supporters for years. They argued that United’s problems extend beyond the manager and that the squad lacks the depth required to compete consistently at the highest level.
Others questioned whether speaking out immediately after a defeat was the right approach, particularly when individual performances have also fallen short of expectations.
That disagreement reflects the wider frustration surrounding Manchester United. Supporters want to see better recruitment, stronger leadership and more consistent results, but there is little agreement over who deserves the greatest share of the blame.
Martínez’s comments have brought those concerns back into the spotlight at a difficult moment for the club.
Ultimately, United’s problems cannot be solved through recruitment alone. The hierarchy must make better decisions, the coaching staff must find ways to improve performances, and the players must deliver on the pitch.
With pressure mounting on Carrick and questions growing over the club’s long-term direction, Manchester United need a response that goes beyond words. Their next challenge is to turn a season of frustration into one that restores confidence among supporters and demonstrates that the club is moving forward.
