Lisandro Martinez future at Manchester United in doubt after criticism of sporting director

Lisandro Martinez’s future at Manchester United is uncertain after he publicly criticised sporting director Jason Wilcox following the club’s 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

The Argentina defender’s contract expires at the end of next season, although Manchester United have the option to extend it by a further year until June 2028.

According to The Athletic, Martinez does not want to sign an extension, while the club are also considering whether to activate their existing option. Spain is expected to be his preferred destination if he leaves Manchester United.

Martinez is not among the club’s highest-paid players and has been seeking improved terms since winning the World Cup during his first season at Manchester United in 2022-23. However, negotiations have made no significant progress.

Following Tuesday’s defeat by Atletico Madrid, Martinez directed criticism at Wilcox during an interview with Amazon Prime.

“We need to bring in more players to compete,” Martinez said. “I expect more from our sporting director, and I have to be honest.”

Sources close to the player, speaking anonymously to The Athletic, said the comments were not intended to force a move away from Manchester United or to persuade the club not to take up their option to extend his contract.

They added that Martinez would have expressed the same view even if he had five years remaining on his deal. His remarks were described as a reaction to his frustration at the team’s situation rather than part of an attempt to make Manchester United sell him.

Martinez issued a statement on his social media accounts on Wednesday evening, saying his criticism of the club’s leadership came from a desire to “see this club competing for the biggest trophies”.

Manchester United are expected to respond to the public nature of his comments. The club have not announced whether Martinez will be punished, but both sides anticipate that he could receive a financial penalty.

The incident is expected to be discussed with the players when they return to training on Thursday. The squad had been given Wednesday off.

The dispute comes during a difficult period for Manchester United, who have now gone five matches without a win in all competitions. Martinez’s comments have added further pressure on the club’s management and squad.