TA: Little possibility for Martinez to renew contract as he may be dropped from lineup & fined

The shockwaves of Lisandro Martinez’s decision to share his private feelings in the public domain could be felt as soon as the microphone left his lips. Several people connected to Manchester United described Martinez’s criticism of the club’s board, and director of football Jason Wilcox in particular, as unprecedented.

That is the sentiment among a group of experienced professionals canvassed by The Athletic, giving their opinions anonymously to protect relationships. Martinez has cast aside those usual rules of engagement. He has opened the door wide on the dressing room, inviting the most profound questions of those running the club. It is a commentary that will earn widespread support among fans harbouring deep frustrations at United’s direction, but the consequences could be profound.

Speaking to Amazon Prime moments after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid, Martinez pointed the finger of blame for United’s issues upstairs. “We have to bring in more players to compete,” he said. “I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest.”

Lisandro Martínez did NOT hold back after United's loss to Atletico 😬👀 pic.twitter.com/OGo25Pzd30

— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) October 13, 2026

Wilcox was appointed technical director of United in April 2024, but rose to director of football in June 2025 following the abrupt departure of Dan Ashworth as sporting director six months earlier.

Martinez, speaking in the bowels of the stadium, looked up and raised his index finger as he said: “Changing, changing, changing manager? What about other areas? I can’t say more. It’s easy to blame the coach, it’s easy to blame the players, but what about other areas?” Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s co-owner, had been watching events in the directors’ box of the Metropolitano.

Neither was Martinez’s outburst an emotional, isolated outburst. He also gave an interview to U.S. broadcaster CBS where, despite interviewer (and former United goalkeeper) Peter Schmeichel trying to placate Martinez, the Argentine doubled down. “Every season we are saying the same thing,” he said. “If we don’t say the truth, nothing will change.”

"As a club, I expect more… I’m not gonna close my mouth, we need to have more ambition.” 👀

Lisandro Martínez opens up to @pschmeichel1 about Manchester United's struggles 👇 pic.twitter.com/mJsHg9pk9Z

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 13, 2026

In terms of comparable past episodes of explosive post-match interviews, only Roy Keane’s in the 2000-01 season comes close. He called out fans eating “prawn sandwiches” for not knowing football after a poor atmosphere at Old Trafford for a Champions League win over Dynamo Kyiv in November 2000.

Then five months later, following United’s exit in the competition to Bayern Munich, he labelled some team-mates “complacent” for “getting carried away by a bit of success.” This was two years after United had won the Treble, on the way to clinching a third league title in a row. The landscape at the club is very different now.

In October 2010, Wayne Rooney challenged United on signings through a statement rather than a television interview, effectively handing in a transfer request that led to a tearful press conference from Sir Alex Ferguson. A month later, Rooney signed a new contract and apologised to fans.

Martinez’s contract is a relevant factor here. His current terms run out next summer, although United have the option of an extra year to 2028. Martinez is not among United’s highest-paid players and has wanted a new contract on raised terms since winning the World Cup during his debut campaign in 2022-23, but talks have never properly progressed due to his injuries.

The prospect of him extending terms in the wake of his interviews is remote in the extreme. Ironically, he was a player United could have sold this summer to raise funds. Whether his intervention in Madrid means he is more likely to leave on a free transfer remains to be seen.

In the immediate term, United would be expected to take action on Martinez. Ruben Amorim lost his job the day after he aired his grievances with Wilcox in a post-match press conference at Elland Road, and it would seem implausible for Martinez to start at the same ground on Sunday in United’s next fixture, given the heat of his comments. Club sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect their positions, say it is inevitable that Martinez will be fined for his behaviour.

Martinez was undoubtedly supporting Michael Carrick by widening the scope of scrutiny beyond United’s head coach, who himself would have wanted more from the market. But it did leave Carrick in a very awkward position for his own interviews. Carrick declined to comment in detail, saying he had not seen the full interviews and that “emotion” had a part to play for Martinez.

If this is ultimately the start of Martinez’s exit from United, he will be going out swinging, and winning admiration from fans angered at the club’s transfer activity. Carrick’s arrival took United to third, but only three senior outfield signings arrived in Youri Tielemans (who also declined to voice an opinion over Martinez’s comments when asked by Amazon Prime on Tuesday), Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba for a combined £155million. Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal all spent more, some significantly, while Ipswich Town and Hull City were in the same ballpark.

United missed out on Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes, Ederson, Alex Scott, and Aurelien Tchouameni, failed in a pursuit of Lewis Hall, and chose not to sign a striker to support Benjamin Sesko, who is out injured again.

And so, focus on Wilcox ramps up at a time when he would be involved in any decisions over Carrick’s future and prospective successors. Some who have dealt with Wilcox sense that pressure internally in any case.

Wilcox, however, is someone who backs himself and has, to this point, established trust with Ratcliffe over his football judgement. He also has a strong relationship with chief executive Omar Berrada, having worked with him for years at Manchester City.

This does present an opportunity for Wilcox to go public himself. Fans would appreciate an explanation over the transfer policy and general club outlook. They would also welcome more insight on the decision to trigger Erik ten Hag’s contract extension then sack him four months later, the Amorim episode — when Wilcox was among those proposing a shift in system — and Carrick’s status.

Amorim was sacked due to the breakdown of his relationship with Wilcox, which Bruno Fernandes touched on in his interview for Diary of a CEO. Fernandes is yet to sign a new contract as negotiations continue.

Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw also went on record this summer as wanting squad reinforcements. Martinez has done that in a more hostile manner here, but those who know him might not be totally surprised. Martinez made representations to Ratcliffe over bringing his Argentina team-mate Emi Martinez to the club last summer, before Senne Lammens was signed instead.

He is a vocal figure at Carrington, often voicing displeasure when he feels certain aspects are not right, and had a confrontation with Amorim at training last December when he felt he was ready to start. Martinez was not named in an XI until Boxing Day against Newcastle, but Amorim made him captain and he continued to wear the armband for his final two games in charge.

Martinez has history with executives, too. In 2022, according to De Telegraaf, Martinez allegedly called Ajax’s new technical director Gerry Hamstra “a f***ing nobody” for blocking his transfer to United. He moved two days later.

Martinez has also been through this before. In 2023, after Ten Hag finished third, United signed Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana, rather than Harry Kane and Declan Rice. Casemiro was dissatisfied with that investment, having felt United could push for the title with major additions.

It was a different football regime then, but the consistent link is the Glazer family. They are still majority owners and continue to make rulings on transfer spend, as does Ratcliffe.

Martinez needs to play better himself — he was dominated by Dominic Solanke for his late goal in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur — but he is entitled to his views. His choice to air them so strongly will have ramifications in the coming days, weeks and months.