Martinez apologises after Carrick's left-back call sparked Manchester United outburst

Lisandro Martinez has apologised for his public outburst following Manchester United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, with reports indicating the flashpoint was the decision to start 19-year-old academy player Ayden Heaven at left-back in the Spanish capital.

According to The Sun, Martinez was not directing criticism at Heaven himself but at the club’s board for failing to sign a senior left-back during the transfer window. Lewis Hall had been United’s primary target, but Newcastle United declined to sell, and subsequent links to Joaquin Seys and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde came to nothing. With Luke Shaw sidelined by injury, the positional gap was exposed in Madrid.

In the immediate aftermath of the defeat, Martinez called out director of football Jason Wilcox, suggesting United had been left short of options. He also hinted the squad lacked the quality to compete at the highest level, though a statement issued 24 hours later stopped short of a full apology while insisting he “believes in his team-mates”.

A second statement, posted on Instagram, went further. “Today I met with the club’s leadership and the manager,” Martinez wrote. “It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s 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 apologise.”

The fallout also disrupted plans off the pitch. United’s players had been scheduled to attend a team dinner on Thursday evening, but those arrangements were cancelled following the defeat, with the squad now focused on Sunday’s Premier League visit to Elland Road to face Leeds United — a fixture Shaw will miss.

United have spent approximately £150 million rebuilding their midfield in recent windows, yet the left-back position remains unaddressed. Benjamin Sesko’s shin problem has forced further positional reshuffles, while Joshua Zirkzee has featured regularly despite being available for transfer in the summer. Shaw’s persistent injury record makes relying on him for twice-weekly fixtures a significant risk, a reality that appears to underpin Martinez’s frustration.