Carrick reprimands Amad over cryptic social media post backing Martinez at Man United

Michael Carrick confirmed on Friday that Amad Diallo was reprimanded after posting a cryptic message on social media in the wake of Manchester United’s defeat to Atletico Madrid, with the winger’s post interpreted as a show of solidarity with Lisandro Martinez.

Martinez had used post-match interviews to publicly criticise the club’s football leadership and the lack of investment in the first-team squad during the summer transfer window. The Argentine defender subsequently held showdown talks with Carrick, director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, before issuing a social media apology on Thursday for the “time and place” of his comments — though not their substance.

While Martinez’s outburst dominated the fallout from the result in Spain, Amad posted a photograph from the game accompanied by the words “F***ing disgrace. I have no words.” Carrick confirmed the post was intended as a message of support for his teammate.

Speaking on Friday, Carrick acknowledged the sentiment behind the gesture while making clear there are better ways to channel such emotion. “It’s a situation where there are ways of doing it, and in one way, it shows the boys care an awful lot,” he said. “There is ways of doing it as part of learning a little bit, of showing that emotion, and like I’ve just said, I think we’ve just got to show that in the right manner and channel it in the right manner.”

Carrick added that he was encouraged by the quality of Friday morning’s training session, suggesting the matter has been addressed internally and the squad is focused on moving forward.