Lisandro Martínez says he had a "positive conversation" with Michael Carrick and Manchester United's leadership on Thursday, issuing a new statement that included a public apology just days after lashing out at the club's hierarchy.
The center back's original outburst came after United's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, when he targeted director of football Jason Wilcox and the club's recruitment for an underwhelming summer transfer window and the team's poor start to the 2026-27 season. The rant put his future at the club in question, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, though United hold the option to extend it by another year. Significant backlash followed, prompting Martínez to post a lengthy statement in which he explained his comments and took some blame for the players not delivering on the pitch.
Less than 24 hours later, he posted again on Instagram with a markedly different tone. "Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager," he wrote. "It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after the game. 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."
Underlying Problems Remain
Even with the apology, the issues Martínez originally raised have not gone away. United's summer business focused on rebuilding the midfield rather than addressing the backline. The club paid £48 million ($63.7 million) for Andrey Santos, who has struggled to justify the fee, while Carlos Baleba has made only two appearances after a lengthy ankle injury. Youri Tielemans has been the most effective of the new arrivals, though that is a modest bar given his inconsistent form.
Carrick's defense has conceded in all but one of United's nine matches across all competitions this season, with the team's only clean sheet coming against Champions League debutants Sabah in September. United are winless in their last five matches.
Possible Disciplinary Action
Given the scale of his criticism of the club, Martínez could have faced internal punishment. Last season, Liverpool manager Arne Slot dropped Mohamed Salah after a similarly explosive outburst at Elland Road, and Chelsea suspended Enzo Fernández for openly pushing for a transfer. Dropping Martínez for this weekend's Premier League match against Leeds United would not have been a surprise under the circumstances.
Defensive Options for Leeds
With the situation now apparently smoothed over, Carrick is unlikely to leave Martínez out of his lineup. United's defensive options remain limited after the international break, with Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu again expected to be unavailable. Matthijs de Ligt has returned to availability after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but he has not played a competitive minute since November 2025, making an immediate recall against Leeds a risky option.
