The Argentine defender says Manchester United must strengthen the squad, insisting the club’s problems extend beyond the manager and players.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has criticised the club’s hierarchy over what he considers insufficient investment in the squad during the summer transfer window.
His comments followed United’s 2–0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 13, a result that extended the club’s winless run to five matches across all competitions.
Speaking after the match, Martínez expressed disappointment with the team’s performance and suggested that the situation reflected broader problems within the club.
The Argentine international said he had expected greater investment after Manchester United finished third in the Premier League last season and secured a return to Europe’s premier club competition.
“I expect more investment. 100 per cent,” Martínez said, adding that he expected more from the club’s technical director, Jason Wilcox.
Although he acknowledged that the players must take responsibility for their performances, the defender stressed that building a competitive squad requires adequate recruitment and depth.
United reportedly spent around £140 million during the summer on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. However, concerns remain among supporters about the club’s failure to strengthen other positions, particularly left-back and striker.
Martínez also questioned the repeated focus on managerial changes, suggesting that other areas of the club’s leadership and operations deserved scrutiny.
“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas?” he said.
His remarks have added to the pressure surrounding manager Michael Carrick, whose side has struggled to produce consistent results.
Carrick, responding after the defeat, said he had not heard Martínez’s comments and suggested that the defender’s frustration may have been influenced by the emotions of the match.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney also criticised the decision to make the comments publicly, arguing that such concerns would have been better addressed internally.
Martínez’s intervention has intensified the debate over Manchester United’s recruitment strategy and whether the club has done enough to build a squad capable of competing consistently at the highest level.
