Lisandro Martinez has publicly apologized for remarks he made after Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, and the club has fined him for the incident. The Argentine defender said that the loss exposed a lack of resources for head coach Michael Carrick, a comment that sparked a formal response from the club’s hierarchy.
Following the 2‑1 loss on Tuesday, Martinez held a meeting with United’s leadership and Carrick on Thursday. In a statement posted on social media, he expressed regret for his “passionate” outburst, acknowledging that the timing and venue were inappropriate. “I want to apologise,” he wrote, adding that the conversation had been “very positive” and that he had been able to “exchange views” with the club’s management.
Carrick is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday ahead of the Premier League fixture against Leeds United on Sunday. United are currently 13th in the table, having won only two of their first nine league games. Whether Martinez will be selected for the trip remains uncertain, as the club weighs his future after his contract expires at season’s end, with an option to extend for another year.
In a separate interview on The Overlap podcast, former captain Roy Keane described the situation at Old Trafford as “a bit of a circus,” while Martinez reiterated his belief in his teammates and the coaching staff. He stressed that every member of the club is working toward the shared goal of success for the club and its supporters.
The club has closed the disciplinary matter, but the decision on whether to activate the contract extension option for Martinez is still pending. The outcome will likely be announced in the coming days.