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'Awful' and 'disrespectful' - Carra and Rooney criticise Martinez outburst

Lisandro Martínez sparked controversy after his post-match outburst against Manchester United’s leadership, criticizing the club’s summer transfer strategy following a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid. The Argentine defender, who played with 10 men, accused the hierarchy—particularly technical director Jason Wilcox—of failing to strengthen the squad, despite a reported £155 million spent on just four major signings.

Martínez also downplayed United’s third-place Premier League finish last season, arguing the team’s success was partly due to early cup exits and the struggles of Liverpool and Chelsea, rather than genuine improvement. His remarks drew sharp rebuke from former United player Jamie Carragher, who called the comments "awful" and "disrespectful," while also highlighting Martínez’s own poor start to the campaign.

Carragher dismissed the defender’s praise for the previous season, noting the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag and questioning the team’s current form after a lackluster display in the Champions League.

Martínez’s frustration reflects broader tensions at United, where fan expectations remain high despite a summer window that failed to address key positional gaps. His criticism of the club’s decision-making comes as United aim to rebuild after a transitional 2022–23 season, with Martínez himself struggling to replicate his World Cup-winning form.

The fallout from his remarks is likely to dominate headlines, though United’s on-field performance—particularly in Europe—will ultimately determine whether the transfer criticism resonates or fades into background noise.

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