Manchester United
Martínez criticism deepens Manchester United unease as Amad’s post adds to the noise
Martínez’s transfer criticism, Amad’s post and Rooney’s response have intensified Manchester United’s unrest.
Lisandro Martínez’s outspoken criticism of Manchester United’s summer transfer activity has only added to an already uneasy mood, and Amad Diallo’s social media response did little to calm matters.
Amad posted what he called a “f—ing disgrace” on Snapchat, then followed it with “I have no words,” after a night in which tensions around the club’s direction were already under scrutiny. It was not clear exactly what he was referring to, with the possible targets ranging from the 2-0 defeat itself to the referee’s dismissal of Yoro, Martínez’s remarks, Jason Wilcox’s transfer work, or Bryan Mbeumo’s finishing.
The discussion was triggered by Martínez’s own comments on the club’s recruitment. He said he “expected more” than the arrival of three first-team midfielders, while stopping short of naming the other areas he felt also needed attention. That criticism came after Michael Carrick made a bold call by reshuffling his side and moving Bruno Fernandes to an unfamiliar right-wing role, while starting all three of the club’s midfield summer signings together.
Carrick admitted afterwards: “We feel the game was there for us, so we could and should have got more from it.”
Wayne Rooney, speaking as an Amazon Prime Video pundit, was unimpressed by the public airing of frustrations. “Something like that will rip that dressing room apart,” Rooney warned. “That interview is not going to help the situation the club are in at the minute. That’s going to bring a greater noise around it; the players are not happy, they’re not settled, they don’t trust in their teammates. That’s not going to help at all.”
Rooney also said, “I think he has maybe gone a bit too far. That’s for the manager, and that should really stay internal.”
While he accepted that Martínez had a point about the need for more investment, Rooney added that the defender’s own form does not give him much ground to stand on. “He is probably one of the players who is out the door through his performance. His performances haven’t been good enough,” he said.
Manchester United
How Wilcox’s Manchester United signings stack up after a turbulent start
Wilcox’s United signings are already under scrutiny, with some looking shaky and others showing real promise.
Jason Wilcox has now overseen eight first-team arrivals since taking over as Manchester United’s director of football in June 2025, and the verdict on that group is already being tested by events on the pitch.
A poor start to the 2026-27 season brought fresh scrutiny after defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, when Lisandro Martínez delivered a pointed post-match criticism of United’s recruitment. “I expect more from our technical director [Wilcox],” Martínez fumed. “I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”
From there, the signings can be grouped from least convincing to most encouraging.
Karl Darlow sits near the bottom of the list. Signed on a free transfer as cover after United tired of André Onana and Altay Bayındır’s mistakes, the 36-year-old has made only one competitive appearance. That outing came in a 3-2 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, and his role now looks restricted to domestic cups until his contract ends in 2028.
Andrey Santos remains difficult to judge. Bought for $64.3 million in July, he has started only three competitive matches and looks set for a marginal role in midfield. He brings versatility, but the sample size is still too small to draw firm conclusions.
Youri Tielemans arrived for $47 million and offered experience and technical quality, but his early months have been uneven. His lack of mobility and physicality has not always suited Kobbie Mainoo, and United may need to rethink that partnership.
Benjamin Šeško has given far more reason for optimism. Signed for $89 million, he scored 11 Premier League goals in 30 appearances, starting 17, despite injury interruptions. His pace, strength and decisive finishing have already made an impression.
Carlos Baleba may yet climb even higher. United waited for his valuation to fall before paying $96 million in the 2026 summer window, and although injury delayed his debut, his stamina, reading of the game and ball-winning ability fit the midfield profile the club needs.
Matheus Cunha rounds out the assessment strongly. After a season of positional changes and adaptation following his $85 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, he finished with 10 Premier League goals and two assists, including three goals in his final four matches. There are still questions over his best role, but the early return has been positive.
Manchester United
Martínez faces fallout after explosive Manchester United criticism
Martínez’s sharp post-match comments have triggered anger inside United and raised fresh doubts about his future.
Lisandro Martínez has put himself at the centre of a serious Manchester United problem after a furious response to Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid. His remarks did not just take aim at the display on the pitch, but also appeared to question the club’s direction at senior level and the standards of several teammates.
“Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team. It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result.
“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?”
That final line was delivered with his index finger raised, a gesture that seemed pointed toward those above him. He later repeated the theme in comments to CBS.
The reaction inside the club has reportedly been severe. Sky Sports said “at least one other player” confronted Martínez on the flight back to Manchester, while “anger and bemusement” was said to have spread through the hierarchy and the dressing room. Amad Diallo added to the tension with an ambiguous Snapchat post: “I have no words. F—ing disgrace.”
Wayne Rooney was equally direct on Prime Video. “Something like that will rip that dressing room apart.” He added: “It looks like that was a bit of an agenda [from Martínez] … he’s wanted to say that, because that doesn’t mirror the performance. I thought the performance was better. It’s a bit disrespectful to his teammates as well. He is disrespecting his teammates because he’s saying the team isn’t good enough.” Rooney also argued that “Bruno [Fernandes] is the only one who has any right to come out and say anything like that as captain. Even then, it should be behind closed doors.”
The timing is awkward for Martínez, who was already keen to leave during the 2026 summer window and had Atlético Madrid as his preferred destination. He is now in the final year of his deal, with United holding an option to extend it to 2028, although The Athletic said “The prospect of him extending terms in the wake of his interviews is remote in the extreme.”
The report also says it is “inevitable that Martínez will be fined” and a January sale may now be a realistic outcome.
Man Utd
Martínez Lashes United’s Summer Business After Atlético Defeat
Martínez criticised United’s transfer work after the Atlético loss, saying the club needed more support.
Lisandro Martínez did not hold back after Manchester United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, directing pointed criticism at the club’s summer transfer work and, in particular, director of football Jason Wilcox.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport after the match, the centre back said: “Really poor,” Martínez told Amazon Prime Sport after the match. “Really poor. I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment. We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserve to win today.”
When pressed on whether he had expected greater investment, Martínez was equally direct. “[I expected more] yeah, 100%,” the Argentine confessed. “I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”
He added that United had laid foundations last season, but had not built on them enough. “Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team. It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here.”
Martínez also made clear he did not see the manager as the main problem. “I don’t think so,” Martínez said when asked about Carrick. “He does his best. Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams knows how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season is a big problem.
“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can’t say more.” But he did say more. “Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas,” Martínez said pointing up, seemingly referencing United’s higher-ups.
Carrick, speaking afterwards, said he had not seen Martínez’s remarks before responding. “I think after a game like this you come here to trying and get something out of the game and we’re disappointed,” Carrick said. “Sometimes you can be a little bit emotional as well. I have not seen it so I don’t think now is the right time for me to comment on it.
Carrick added: “I fully know we all care and we show that in different ways. But now is certainly the time to be together and work through it. We got a big a big game now Sunday and we’ve got to prepare for that properly.”
United’s summer work focused heavily on midfield, with Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans arriving for $207.2 million (£155 million). Karl Darlow was the other senior addition, while Marcus Rashford returned after 18 months on loan.
The midfield trio all started together against Atléti for the first time and showed some improvement in that area of the pitch. Even so, the broader squad issues remain. United were linked with a left back all summer, including Lewis Hall, but brought in no defender, while Luke Shaw has already missed time through injury and Ayden Heaven filled in on the left against Atléti.
There were similar shortcomings in attack. United were closer to letting Joshua Zirkzee leave than adding another centre forward option, even though Šeško is now injured and Zirkzee has not started a game all season. With Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha better suited to playing as second strikers, the lack of depth is becoming harder to ignore now that Champions League football and domestic cups have been added to the schedule.
