Martinez set to leave United as Carrick retains squad backing amid board pressure

Lisandro Martinez is unlikely to remain at Manchester United beyond this season after his public criticism of director of football Jason Wilcox and the club’s board, with the option to extend his current deal not yet activated by the club.

Martinez’s comments on Tuesday night drew a mixed reaction among the squad, but his attempt to deflect criticism away from head coach Michael Carrick and towards the board was broadly viewed as a positive gesture. Several senior players share his view that Carrick did not receive adequate backing in the summer transfer window — a sentiment echoed by members of Carrick’s inner circle.

Carrick himself said on Friday that training had been as good as it had been all season and that the controversy had “galvanised” the group, reinforcing the picture of a squad that remains committed to the 45-year-old despite United winning just two of their last nine games, including a defeat to Atlético Madrid.

That unity among the players increases the pressure on chief executive Omar Berrada and Wilcox to make a decision on Carrick’s future. There is currently no indication that a managerial change is being planned, but the squad’s position has been made clear.

On Martinez specifically, his form has dipped in recent months and his injury record has been a persistent concern. With the Argentine keen to move on and United already scouting left-footed centre-backs for next summer — Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is back on their shortlist — a parting of the ways in 2027 appears to suit both parties.

Wilcox’s own position continues to attract scrutiny. It is approaching a year since the director of football last spoke publicly about his plans for the club, following an interview after United had won three consecutive games under Ruben Amorim. Since then, he has overseen the dramatic end of Amorim’s tenure and a transfer window that left players frustrated by a perceived lack of investment.

Berrada has similarly kept a low profile since joining from Manchester City, where both he and Wilcox were considered accessible and forthcoming with the media. The silence from both men at Old Trafford has fuelled broader questions about the club’s direction at a difficult moment in the season.