Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has criticized the club’s hierarchy for failing to strengthen the squad sufficiently after securing Champions League qualification.
His comments followed United’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, which extended their winless run to five matches.
Martinez said United’s strong performance last season, which saw them finish third in the Premier League, should have prompted greater investment to help the team compete at the highest level.
He specifically called on technical director Jason Wilcox to do more, insisting that although the players must improve, the club’s leadership also has a responsibility to build a stronger squad.
The Argentine defender questioned the club’s repeated managerial changes, following the dismissals of Erik ten Hag in October 2024 and Ruben Amorim in January 2026.
Martinez argued that constantly changing coaches would not solve the club’s problems, adding that last season’s achievements had laid the foundation for building a competitive team.
However, former United captain Wayne Rooney condemned Martinez’s decision to criticize the hierarchy publicly, warning that his comments could damage unity within the dressing room.
Rooney argued that the defender’s remarks risked undermining his teammates, while former United winger Ashley Young also insisted that players must take responsibility for their performances despite concerns over recruitment.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, however, expressed some sympathy with Martinez’s position, arguing that supporters deserved honesty about the squad’s shortcomings.
Concerns have centered on United’s failure to recruit additional striking support for Benjamin Sesko and provide competition for left-back Luke Shaw, despite spending £155m on three midfielders during the summer transfer window.
Head coach Michael Carrick declined to comment extensively on Martinez’s remarks, saying he hadn’t watched the full interview and that the immediate aftermath of the match wasn’t the right time to address the issue.
With United struggling for results and pressure mounting on the club’s leadership, Martinez’s intervention has intensified scrutiny of the decisions being made behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
