Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has issued a public apology following a meeting with manager Michael Carrick and the club’s leadership, addressing the controversy surrounding his criticism of the team’s recruitment strategy.
The Argentina international confirmed on Thursday that he had spoken directly with senior officials about his comments following United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.
Martínez described the discussions as positive, explaining that everyone involved had an opportunity to exchange opinions and address the circumstances surrounding his post-match interview.
The 28-year-old acknowledged that his frustration with the result had influenced his decision to publicly criticize the club’s leadership. He also admitted that the timing and setting of his remarks were inappropriate.
Martínez emphasized that his passion for football sometimes influences his reactions, particularly when Manchester United fail to meet expectations. However, he recognized that his comments had not helped maintain unity within the club.
The defender also expressed confidence that everyone at Manchester United, from the players to the management and executives, shares the ambition of restoring the club’s success.
He concluded his statement by explaining that the disagreement had been addressed and that his attention had returned to helping United win matches.
The controversy began following Manchester United’s disappointing performance against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman secured a 2-0 victory for the Spanish club, extending United’s winless run to five matches across all competitions.
Martínez expressed his disappointment with the performance and questioned whether Manchester United had strengthened their squad sufficiently during the summer transfer window.
The Argentine specifically criticized technical director Jason Wilcox, suggesting that the club needed additional investment to compete against Europe’s strongest teams.
He also defended Carrick, arguing that responsibility for the team’s struggles should not fall exclusively on the manager and players.
Martínez believed United had established a foundation during the previous season but had failed to build on that progress through recruitment.
His comments attracted considerable attention because they directly challenged the club’s leadership during a difficult start to the 2026-27 campaign.
Carrick initially declined to criticize Martínez, explaining that he had not watched the entire interview and needed to understand the context before determining whether further action was necessary.
The Manchester United manager acknowledged that emotions could influence players immediately after disappointing results. He also emphasized the importance of remaining united and preparing for the next fixture.
On Wednesday, Martínez released an initial statement explaining that his criticism had come from anger and disappointment.
Although he acknowledged his emotional reaction, he did not apologize at that stage.
Instead, the defender maintained that his comments reflected his desire to see Manchester United challenge for major trophies.
He also accepted that players needed to take responsibility for their performances, including himself, and insisted that improving results required everyone at the club to work together.
Thursday’s meeting represented a significant change in the situation.
According to reports, Martínez met with Carrick, Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada at United’s Carrington training complex.
Following those discussions, the defender issued his second statement in two days, this time explicitly apologizing because he had expressed his frustration.
Reports indicate that Manchester United consider the matter closed and that Martínez remains available for selection ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Leeds United at Elland Road.
The defender’s apology does not necessarily mean he has withdrawn his concerns about recruitment or the team’s performances. However, he has accepted that expressing those frustrations publicly was not constructive.
Manchester United will face Leeds after a difficult sequence of results that has increased scrutiny of Carrick and the club’s leadership.
Martínez’s latest statement makes his immediate priority clear: putting the disagreement behind him and working alongside his teammates and manager to improve Manchester United’s performances.
