Martinez's board attack piles pressure on Wilcox as United weigh six director replacements

Lisandro Martinez’s public attack on Manchester United’s board following a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid has heaped fresh pressure on technical director Jason Wilcox, with a number of high-profile sporting directors currently available should Sir Jim Ratcliffe decide to act.

The Argentina defender, a World Cup winner, said he “expects more from our technical director” and from “the top,” blaming the board for insufficient summer investment while defending head coach Michael Carrick as doing “his best” with the squad available. Club legend Wayne Rooney was among those to label Martinez’s comments “disrespectful,” but the rant has nonetheless sharpened scrutiny on Wilcox’s position.

Should United move to replace him, Jason Ayto is among the most credible candidates. The 41-year-old left Brighton’s sporting director role in June after just nine months, with The Athletic reporting “fundamental differences” over the Seagulls’ heavily data-led recruitment model. Ayto spent 11 years at Arsenal, where he championed a blend of data analysis, traditional scouting, and video work — an approach that helped the Gunners make a string of impressive signings and one that would appear well-suited to Old Trafford’s needs.

Piero Ausilio is another name in circulation. After 28 years at Inter Milan, the Italian stepped down as sporting director and has been linked with a move to work alongside Roberto De Zerbi from January. That arrangement has not been confirmed, leaving a window for United to make a move. Ausilio oversaw multiple successful eras at the San Siro, built a reputation for identifying emerging talent, and generated a £47.2 million profit on the sale of André Onana — a name that will resonate, for better or worse, with United supporters.

Laurence Stewart, who served as co-sporting director at Chelsea for four years, has also recently been confirmed as stepping down from Stamford Bridge. His availability adds another credible option to a list that underlines just how many experienced football operations figures are currently on the market.

The convergence of Martinez’s very public frustration and the availability of proven directors is likely to keep the pressure on Ratcliffe and the United hierarchy in the days ahead.