Martinez calls out United's director of football after Atletico defeat and demands stronger recruitment

Lisandro Martinez has publicly called out Manchester United technical director Jason Wilcox over the club’s recruitment, saying he expects “more” investment after a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid exposed the squad’s limitations in the Champions League.

The 28-year-old Argentine was candid in his post-match assessment, linking United’s poor start to the campaign directly to the summer transfer window. “I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night,” Martinez said. He added that the result felt like “a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.”

It is not the first time Martinez has chosen to speak plainly about uncomfortable truths at Old Trafford. Shortly after arriving from Ajax, he was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo storming down the tunnel before the final whistle of a 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur — an incident that dominated headlines at the time. Martinez kept his answer deliberately brief: “I didn’t see anything. I don’t know. I only enjoy with the people, we won, and that’s important.” The deflection was measured, but the emphasis on collective achievement over individual behaviour was unmistakable.

Erik ten Hag subsequently dropped Ronaldo from the squad for the following league game against Chelsea. The forward made just four more appearances for the club before his contract was terminated in November 2022.

Martinez’s willingness to address difficult subjects has also extended beyond the dressing room. Earlier this year, after United won the Manchester derby in January, he responded publicly to criticism from club legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who had questioned his ability to contain Erling Haaland. The defender invited Scholes to speak face-to-face after United proved the doubters wrong.

The pattern across all three episodes is consistent: Martinez is willing to name names and hold his ground, whether the target is a global icon, a club legend, or a senior executive. His latest comments about Wilcox are the most pointed yet, and they arrive at a moment when United’s squad depth and transfer strategy are under serious scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike.