Manchester United are seriously considering punishing Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine defender who vented his frustration after the 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The accusations made against the management, in particular sporting director Jason Wilcox, have ignited a climate of tension within the club, with possible economic and technical consequences for the player.
Martínez, who publicly expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, criticized the club's transfer strategy. According to The Athletic, Manchester United are considering a substantial fine for the centre-back, while Michael Carrick could decide to exclude him from the starting eleven as a disciplinary measure. The defender said the performance was "very poor" and reflected the club's situation, stressing that, after last year's great season, he expected more from the management. “I expected more investment in the market one hundred percent,” he said, heading directly to Wilcox.
Despite investments of £155 million in players such as Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, Martínez believes the squad is still not up to the club's ambitions. His frustration has been further fueled by the fact that, if the situation does not improve, the relationship with the managers could deteriorate further, making a renewal beyond 2027 unlikely. If this is the case, a sale in the next summer transfer window is becoming an increasingly concrete option.
The club has already started to evaluate the possible disciplinary consequences, but the final decision will depend on Martínez's response and the management's willingness to face the criticism. If the fine is implemented or the player is left out of the starting eleven, Martínez's future at Manchester United remains uncertain. For now, the team will have to decide whether to keep the Argentine defender or look for a new owner for the center of defense.