Martinez fined and available for selection after criticising Man Utd board ahead of Leeds clash

Lisandro Martinez has been fined, issued a formal apology, and retained in Manchester United’s travelling squad for Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Leeds United after his explosive public criticism of the club’s board threatened to overshadow the build-up to the Elland Road derby.

The 28-year-old Argentine centre-back sparked a significant internal crisis following United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, when he gave an interview publicly calling out technical director Jason Wilcox for a lack of investment and what he described as a failure to properly strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window. Martinez initially doubled down on the remarks via social media before the situation escalated into a formal disciplinary process.

On Thursday, Martinez held clear-the-air talks at Carrington with head coach Michael Carrick, chief executive Omar Berrada, and Wilcox himself. The meeting resulted in a fine and a public apology from the defender, in which he acknowledged his mistake and reaffirmed his commitment to the team’s collective goals.

Carrick addressed the matter directly in his pre-match press conference, insisting the episode is fully resolved. “The matter is completely resolved and the squad has moved on without any lingering drama,” the manager said, adding that Martinez accepts he made a mistake and that the showdown talks had ultimately helped galvanise the dressing room rather than divide it.

Despite the off-field turbulence, Martinez returned to full training without restriction and was reported to have shown normal sharpness and intensity in all pre-match sessions. Carrick confirmed the centre-back has been included in the squad travelling to Elland Road and is fully available for selection, though whether he will start remains to be seen.

Manchester United face Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October, with kickoff at 4.30pm BST. The fixture carries added weight as a rivalry renewed in the Premier League, and Martinez’s availability — or otherwise — in the starting line-up is likely to be one of the defining talking points before kick-off.