Lisandro Martinez Criticises Manchester United Board Over Lack of Transfer Investment

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has publicly criticised the club’s leadership, arguing that the team needed greater investment in new players to compete consistently at the highest level of European football.

The Argentina international made the comments after United suffered a 2–0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The result extended United’s winless run to five matches in all competitions, increasing pressure on head coach Michael Carrick and raising further questions about the club’s recruitment strategy.

Speaking to Amazon Prime, Martinez said he expected more investment from the club’s leadership, specifically mentioning director of football Jason Wilcox. He acknowledged that the players also needed to improve, but argued that building a competitive squad required stronger support from those responsible for recruitment.

“We had a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well,” Martinez said.

The defender also questioned the repeated changes in management at Old Trafford, suggesting that constantly replacing coaches would not solve the club’s wider problems. He maintained that United needed to strengthen other areas of their football operation instead of placing the responsibility entirely on the manager or the players.

Martinez’s criticism comes after United returned to the Champions League following their third-place finish in the previous Premier League season. However, their summer recruitment focused heavily on midfield, with the club spending approximately £155 million on three midfielders, while concerns remained over attacking support for Benjamin Sesko and competition for Luke Shaw at left-back.

United’s defeat in Madrid also highlighted their struggles on the pitch. Atletico took the lead through Pablo Barrios inside the opening minute before Ademola Lookman secured the victory in the 79th minute, shortly after United defender Leny Yoro was sent off.

Former United captain Wayne Rooney criticised Martinez’s decision to air his concerns publicly, arguing that the comments could create divisions within the dressing room and suggest that the current squad was not good enough. Former United winger Ashley Young also questioned the timing, saying the players needed to take responsibility for their performances.

Other observers, however, have pointed to the club’s recruitment as a legitimate concern, arguing that the squad requires greater depth to compete across multiple competitions.

Carrick said he had not fully watched Martinez’s interview and declined to make an immediate judgment, explaining that he needed to understand the circumstances before deciding whether to address the matter with the defender.

The comments have added another layer of scrutiny to United’s difficult start to the season. While Martinez accepts that the players must improve, his intervention has placed renewed attention on the decisions made by the club’s leadership and whether its transfer strategy has provided the manager with the resources needed to compete.