Manchester United is facing renewed internal tensions following defender Lisandro Martinez’s public criticism of the club’s leadership after a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The loss, part of an ongoing poor run of form, has intensified pressure on interim manager Michael Carrick, who has yet to secure a victory in his last five matches in charge.
Martinez, a key Argentine defender, openly expressed frustration with Manchester United’s recruitment strategy, specifically targeting director of football Jason Wilcox. The player highlighted a perceived lack of investment in new signings necessary to enhance the squad’s competitiveness. Martinez said the club needed to bring in more players to contend at the highest level and called for greater accountability from the technical director. In a statement posted on social media, Martinez later clarified that his comments were made out of anger and disappointment, emphasizing the pain of underperforming for a club with Manchester United’s history and stature.
Sources within the club suggest that Martinez’s comments were not made in isolation or purely on his own behalf but reflect broader concerns among players about the club’s technical leadership. Some teammates reportedly support Martinez’s critique, and there have been unsuccessful attempts by senior players, including Martinez, to arrange meetings with Wilcox to discuss these issues. However, a dressing-room source also questioned Carrick’s suggestion that the defender acted solely on raw emotion, indicating a deeper level of player dissatisfaction.
Wilcox, who was appointed technical director in April 2024 and promoted to director of football in June 2025, remains in his role. He has recently been involved in discussions in Madrid alongside minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and CEO Omar Berrada, though there is no expectation that Wilcox will publicly address Martinez’s remarks. Following the outburst, Martinez is anticipated to face disciplinary action from the club.
Manchester United’s recent struggles have been notable, with the team 13th in the Premier League and winless in their past five matches across all competitions. The club’s transfer activity last summer, which saw the signing of Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans, and Andrey Santos for a total of £152 million, has not translated into improved results. This is despite high preseason expectations after finishing third in the league the previous campaign.
Carrick’s future as interim manager is uncertain, with Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte reportedly on the shortlist should the club decide to make a change. Meanwhile, players including Santos have expressed continued belief in Carrick, acknowledging the team’s difficulties but emphasizing the need for collective effort to reverse their poor form.
As Manchester United prepares for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Leeds, the club faces the challenge of stabilizing both on and off the pitch amid growing scrutiny of its leadership and squad management.