The Lisandro Martinez future at Manchester United has come into doubt after the defender publicly criticized the club’s recruitment following a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid on October 13, 2026. Martinez singled out technical director Jason Wilcox in an interview with Amazon Prime. United have not announced any decision about his contract or any disciplinary action, and he remains under contract.
The 28-year-old’s deal runs until the end of this season, with a club option to extend it by 12 months to 2028. Reports since the match suggest an extension is far from guaranteed. Several of those reports rely on unnamed sources, and none has been confirmed by the club or the player.
What is confirmed so far
- Martinez criticized the club’s summer recruitment and Wilcox after the Atletico Madrid loss.
- He defended manager Michael Carrick in the same interview.
- Carrick said he had not seen the comments and declined to respond.
- Martinez’s contract expires at the end of the season, with a 12-month club option.
- United have made no official announcement about his future.
What Martinez said after the Atletico Madrid defeat
Martinez described United’s performance as “really poor” and said it reflected the state of the club at the moment. He told Amazon Prime that the squad needed more players to compete, because many rival teams had strengthened. “I expect more from our technical director,” he said, referring to Wilcox.
He also backed Carrick. Martinez said a club cannot keep changing its manager, and when asked whether Carrick had not been supported enough in the summer window, he replied that he did not think so. Carrick later said he had not seen the interview.
How the match unfolded
Pablo Barrios put Atletico ahead inside the first minute. Shortly before half-time, the home side thought they had doubled the lead through Johnny Cardoso, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review found a handball in the build-up.
In the second half, Leny Yoro was sent off for a last-man challenge on substitute Jonathan David, and Ademola Lookman added a second goal. The result extended United’s run to five games without a win. A 1-1 draw with Tottenham had already given them their worst start to a top-flight season in 40 years. United have won only two of their nine games in all competitions this season, against Ipswich Town and Sabah.
Lisandro Martinez future: what is reported about his contract
Martinez joined United from Ajax in 2022, signing a contract to 2027 with an option for a further year. He later won the World Cup with Argentina. Now in the final year of that deal, he has not been offered a new one, according to reports. Sky Sports reported that there are real doubts about whether the contract will be extended, and that United’s bosses had not yet decided whether to discipline him. It also reported that there is no internal pressure on Wilcox’s position.
Other reports differ in detail:
- Goal, citing The Athletic, says a fine is viewed internally as unavoidable, that dropping him from the team is being considered, and that an extension is now very unlikely.
- TEAMtalk reports that United are not planning to sell him because of the comments, but are unhappy that he went public.
- Some outlets report that he wanted to join Atletico Madrid this summer and that no suitable bid arrived. Another report says at least one teammate challenged him over his remarks.
These claims come from unnamed sources and have not been confirmed.
Why the Lisandro Martinez future matters for United’s season
United finished third in the Premier League last season under Carrick, which brought them back into the Champions League. The summer window added four players, including Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba. Commentators have pointed to the lack of a natural left-winger and of competition for Luke Shaw as gaps in the squad. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chief executive Omar Berrada were reported to be at the stadium in Madrid.
A senior player criticizing the club’s football leadership in public is unusual, particularly while the manager is under scrutiny after a poor run. Martinez’s concerns about squad depth echo points made by outside observers. At the same time, at least one commentary piece argued that the manner and timing of his remarks were inappropriate, and that players should not be shielded from criticism either.
What happens next
United face Como in the Champions League and travel to Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday. The clearest signals about the dispute would be whether the club disciplines Martinez, whether it triggers the 2028 option, and whether either side comments publicly.
Until the club confirms anything, the Lisandro Martinez future remains open: he is a player under contract whose next step is uncertain, not a player who has been sold, dropped or offered a new deal.