Manchester United have fined defender Lisandro Martínez and regard the matter as settled after the Argentina international publicly criticized the club’s hierarchy following Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Atlético Madrid.
Martínez, 28, made his comments in post-match interviews, saying the club had not strengthened the squad sufficiently during the summer transfer window and had left head coach Michael Carrick with too few resources.
He said in particular that he “expected more from our technical director,” Jason Wilcox, and hinted that the board should look past the players and the manager when judging the team’s difficulties.
As football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on X on Friday, his post read, “Manchester United have fined Lisandro Martínez as punishment and consider the case now closed.
“Lisandro spoke to Carrick and the directors to clarify the situation and apologize, then now moving on.”
At the club’s Carrington training ground, Martínez held clear-the-air talks with Carrick, director of football Jason Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada, and other senior figures. The meeting was described by sources as positive.
Afterwards, he issued a public apology on social media. “Today I met with the club’s leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s game,” he wrote.
“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity. The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologize.
“Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognize that my words in that moment did not help with that. I know that every single person at Manchester United is doing everything possible to achieve our shared ambition: bringing the success that this club and its supporters deserve. With this situation now behind us, we are fully focused on winning together.”
According to several reports, United has issued a fine as an official punishment, although the club has not verified the precise amount.
Martínez’s existing deal runs out at the conclusion of the 2026-27 campaign, and United possess an option to prolong it by one more year.
Although the immediate disciplinary matter has been settled, uncertainty still surrounds his future at Old Trafford over the longer term.
