Hasselbaink urges United to drop Martinez after defender's public attack on club hierarchy

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has called on Manchester United to drop Lisandro Martinez for their next fixtures after the defender publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Martinez made his frustrations clear after the loss, pointing to what he sees as a failure to adequately strengthen the squad — particularly in defence — during the summer window. United spent £155 million on three midfield signings, bringing in Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos under manager Michael Carrick, but left-back and other defensive positions went largely unaddressed. The club missed out on priority targets including Lewis Hall and withdrew from moves for Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes over price concerns.

Hasselbaink acknowledged the substance of Martinez’s grievances but argued the manner of the outburst crossed a line. “His points are valid but do I think he should say it? That’s a different story,” he said. “I expect him to not play the next match or the next few matches — you cannot come out publicly and say what you said.”

Martinez’s future at Old Trafford is now under fresh scrutiny. His contract expires at the end of the season, and his comments have cast doubt over his availability for Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Leeds United.

On Wednesday, the Argentine posted a statement to his Instagram story attempting to contextualise his remarks. “After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted,” he wrote. “Those who know me know how I live football, with passion, commitment and a huge desire to win. And when things don’t go our way, it hurts, especially when representing a club with the history and stature of Manchester United.”

United have not publicly responded to the situation. The club could opt for a financial penalty rather than a suspension, though Hasselbaink’s view is that a fine alone would be insufficient.

The episode adds further pressure to a difficult start to the season for United, who have won just one of their opening six Premier League matches after finishing third last campaign.