The apology
Lisandro Martínez has officially apologized to Manchester United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, after his post-match outburst went viral. Following a disappointing 2-0 Champions League loss to Atlético Madrid, the 28-year-old defender publicly slammed the club's recruitment strategy, claiming Wilcox failed to build a squad ready for high-stakes matches.
After initially failing to express regret on Wednesday, Martínez met with club leadership and manager Michael Carrick on Thursday. He later shared an apology on Instagram, acknowledging that while he plays with "great intensity," his post-match comments were made in the "time and place that perhaps were not the right ones."
The fallout
While Manchester United isn't confirming specific disciplinary measures, sources suggest the defender has been fined for the incident. The apology marks a serious climbdown from his earlier remarks, where he questioned why the team hadn't been backed more despite spending £155m on midfielders Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba this summer. Martínez had specifically pointed to a lack of investment in other areas, noting that Wilcox failed to secure a left-back.
Why it matters
Behind the scenes, the vibes are off. The wider squad is reportedly feeling the same frustration as Martínez regarding recruitment, as the team grapples with their worst league start since 1986—earning only six points from six games. With Carrick already under heavy pressure and the club out of the Carabao Cup, this internal tension is coming at a major L for the team's season momentum.
