Gerrard and Keane split on Martinez's public criticism of Man United's transfer policy

Lisandro Martinez’s candid interview following Manchester United’s defeat to Atlético Madrid has sparked a debate among pundits over whether the Argentine defender crossed a line by publicly criticising the club’s transfer activity and sporting director Jason Wilcox.

On the latest episode of Stick to Football, Roy Keane took a broadly permissive view of Martinez’s outspokenness. “What right have we got to say what a player should or shouldn’t say?” Keane said. “There’ll be some fans thinking it’s great, while others will say ‘you’re letting the team down.’ The modern player, if they don’t do it on TV, they’ll do it through different avenues — social media or through their agents.”

Keane did acknowledge the timing was questionable, noting that Martinez has made 115 appearances for the club and that United are already struggling. “I don’t see the benefits,” he added, “but at the same time, if a player wants to get something off his chest, who are we to say players can’t do it.”

Gary Neville pushed back sharply, drawing a direct parallel with Wayne Rooney’s 2010 public statement in which the striker suggested United lacked ambition in the transfer market. “Me and Giggsy spoke with Wazza the morning after,” Neville recalled. “He apologised to all the players and apologised publicly. We said in the dressing room, ‘why are we not good enough? Do you not think we’re good enough to win the league?’”

Neville argued that Martinez’s call for more signings carries the same implicit message. “When Martinez says they should have brought more players in, he’s directly attacking his teammates. If I was Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire or the other senior players, I’d be deeply uncomfortable with those comments.”

Steven Gerrard described the remarks as “unhelpful”, while Ian Wright questioned the practical purpose of the criticism given United’s limited ability to act in the current transfer window. Wright said he understood why supporters would sympathise with the sentiment, but questioned the defender’s motives in airing grievances publicly at this point in the season.

The episode underlines the tension at Old Trafford between a squad visibly frustrated with the club’s direction and a management structure still finding its footing under the INEOS ownership group.