Martinez fined after Champions League outburst as Gabriel edges closer to Real Madrid exit

Manchester United have fined Lisandro Martinez after the centre-back publicly criticised the club’s transfer activity in the aftermath of their Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, with the Argentina international subsequently issuing an apology on social media.

Martinez’s post-match comments appeared to suggest United’s summer recruitment had left the squad poorly equipped to compete at the highest level. The club moved swiftly, with the defender meeting with management before acknowledging his remarks had overstepped.

“Today I met with the club’s leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s game,” Martinez wrote. “Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live…”

The fallout from the Atletico defeat compounds a difficult run for Ruben Amorim’s side — or rather, Michael Carrick’s, who heads into Sunday’s away fixture at Elland Road against Leeds United without a win in any competition for more than a month. United sit 13th in the table, three points and six places below their opponents, and could find themselves looking nervously over their shoulders depending on Saturday’s results elsewhere.

Adding to the turbulence off the pitch, teenage academy talent JJ Gabriel appears set to leave Old Trafford before making a single senior competitive appearance. Gabriel has requested the club cancel his registration, a move United have reportedly resisted, but former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness believes the outcome is already largely settled.

“I think it’s about a 30 per cent chance of him staying put and 70 per cent going to Real Madrid. I think it’s that far in their favour,” Wyness told Football Insider.

Wyness was equally critical of how United have handled the situation, dismissing reported suggestions the club might pursue legal action to retain the player. “Man United either didn’t act appropriately; probably last year was the time to do it. They obviously haven’t made the window for his success, his match plan and his pathway very clear to him,” he said. “United are now talking about going legal. I mean, that’s ridiculous, and I think it would be the wrong way to go.”

With the club sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League and facing scrutiny both on and off the pitch, Sunday’s trip to Elland Road takes on added significance for a squad in urgent need of a result.