Man United Fines Lisandro Martinez After He Criticises Club Leadership

Manchester United have fined defender Lisandro Martinez after he publicly criticised the club’s leadership following their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, according to reports published on October 16, 2026. The club is understood to have closed the matter after the Argentina international held talks with manager Michael Carrick and senior officials and issued a public apology.

Martinez sparked controversy after questioning United’s summer transfer recruitment and arguing that the team had not been strengthened enough to compete with other leading clubs. He specifically expressed disappointment with technical director Jason Wilcox and suggested that responsibility for the team’s poor performances should not fall solely on the manager and players.

Speaking after the defeat in Madrid, Martinez said he expected greater investment and insisted that the club’s leadership also needed to take responsibility for its struggles. His comments came amid a difficult start to the season, with United experiencing disappointing results across competitions.

The defender’s remarks attracted criticism from some former players and commentators, who questioned whether a player should publicly challenge the club’s leadership. However, reports also suggested that his concerns about recruitment and squad depth reflected frustrations shared by some members of the dressing room.

According to football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, United imposed a fine on Martinez as punishment for his comments. The club has not publicly confirmed the amount of the fine or disclosed further details of any disciplinary action.

Martinez subsequently met with Carrick, Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada and other senior club officials at the club’s Carrington training ground. Following the meeting, he released a statement apologising for the timing and manner of his remarks, while reaffirming his commitment to the team.

He explained that frustration following the defeat had influenced his comments and acknowledged that speaking out at that moment had not helped the club. Martinez also stressed that Manchester United needed unity as everyone worked towards the same goal of restoring the club’s success.

The situation appears to have been resolved for now, although the incident has highlighted wider questions about United’s recruitment strategy, squad depth and the relationship between players and club executives. Martinez’s contract runs until the end of the 2026–27 season, with United holding an option to extend it for another year.