Martinez issues no apology in United statement after blasting club over transfer failings

Lisandro Martinez declined to apologise for his public attack on Manchester United’s transfer policy in a social media statement released on Wednesday night, leaving the club to weigh disciplinary action as players returned to training on Thursday.

The Argentine defender had caused shockwaves a day earlier with a post-match interview following United’s defeat to Atletico Madrid, in which he directly criticised technical director Jason Wilcox and the club’s failure to invest more heavily in the summer window.

In his Instagram post, Martinez sought to provide context rather than retract his words. “After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted,” he wrote. “Those who know me know how I live football, with passion, commitment and a huge desire to win.”

He insisted his comments reflected genuine ambition for the club. “When I talk about wanting more, I’m talking about the ambition we must all have as part of this club. To keep growing, to become stronger and to have everything we need to compete at the highest level.”

Martinez also turned the responsibility back on the playing squad. “I know that, first and foremost, it’s us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility,” he wrote, adding that he believes in his teammates and manager and remains committed to taking United “back to the top”.

The statement softened the tone of his original outburst without walking back its substance — and the absence of any apology is likely to complicate United’s internal response. Club sources have remained tight-lipped on the specifics of any punishment, though a fine is widely considered the minimum likely outcome given the public nature of the criticism.

Whether the lack of a formal apology influences the severity of that sanction remains unclear. Martinez will discover his fate now that the squad has reconvened at the training ground.