Martinez edges closer to Man United exit after publicly attacking club hierarchy

Lisandro Martinez is moving closer to a Manchester United departure after publicly attacking the club’s hierarchy, with both the player and the club harbouring doubts about extending his contract beyond its current expiry.

The Argentine defender, 28, used two separate post-match interviews following Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid to accuse United of lacking ambition and to take direct aim at director of football Jason Wilcox. The outburst has accelerated what was already a deteriorating relationship between player and club.

According to The Athletic, Martinez has no interest in triggering the 12-month extension clause in his deal that would keep him at Old Trafford until June 2028, and United are equally uncertain about activating it. Should he leave, Spain is reported to be his preferred destination.

The report also reveals that Martinez has sought a new contract on improved terms since winning the World Cup during his first season at the club, but those discussions have never meaningfully progressed — a source of frustration that appears to have finally boiled over in Madrid.

Martinez joined United from Ajax in the summer of 2022 and quickly established himself as one of the club’s most reliable defenders before a series of injury setbacks disrupted his form and availability. His public criticism of Wilcox marks a significant escalation in tensions and raises serious questions about the direction of Ruben Amorim’s squad heading into the summer transfer window.