Rooney accuses Martinez of running a 'premeditated agenda' after Man United bombshell interview

Wayne Rooney has sharply criticised Lisandro Martinez after the Manchester United defender gave a scathing post-match interview following the club’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, accusing the 28-year-old of acting with a premeditated agenda and potentially damaging the dressing room.

Martinez used the interview to take aim at those ‘above’ him at the club, arguing that United’s hierarchy had failed to invest sufficiently in the squad during the summer transfer window. The Argentine said he had expected more from the technical director and that the squad was not equipped to compete at Champions League level, though he defended head coach Michael Carrick, saying he ‘does his best’.

Rooney, speaking in the immediate aftermath, pushed back firmly. “I actually disagree — I thought it was a good performance,” he said. “It’s a difficult one because I always used to feel like I was outspoken as a player and you want to have your opinion, but I think he’s maybe gone too far. That should be down to the manager and should stay internal.”

The former United captain questioned the timing and motive behind Martinez’s decision to speak out. “I think the Martinez interview was very premeditated,” Rooney said. “Why is he doing the interview after this game? Has he put himself forward? I very rarely hear him speak. It looked like something he spoke about with his team to get out there.”

Rooney also suggested Martinez’s own form undermined the credibility of his complaints. “He clearly cares and wants the club to invest more money and more players, and if they do that I think he’ll be one of the players out of the door if I’m being honest, with his performances. His performances haven’t been good enough.”

The United legend warned that the outburst risked fracturing squad unity at a critical moment. “When you need everyone to stick together as players, you can’t be told what’s going on above you,” Rooney said. “Something like that will rip a dressing room apart.”

He also argued that Martinez had shown disrespect to his own team-mates. “He’s saying they’re not good enough — so he’s disrespecting his team-mates,” Rooney added. “I think Bruno is probably the only one who has any right coming out and saying something like that, if I’m being honest, as captain. And even then it should be behind closed doors.”

Rooney concluded that United would likely have little choice but to take action against the World Cup winner over the public outburst.