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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has addressed Lisandro Martinez’s future at the club following the defender’s criticism of the club’s hierarchy, confirming that the Argentine will be included in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United.
Martinez sparked controversy after questioning Manchester United’s summer transfer investment and singling out director of football Jason Wilcox following the club’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Although the defender apologised for the timing of his comments, he stood by the substance of his criticism, triggering speculation about his relationship with the club’s leadership.
However, Carrick insisted on Friday that the matter had been addressed and that the squad was ready to move forward without allowing the controversy to affect its preparations.
“He’s released his statement and realised he made a mistake. That’s enough for us to move on with,” Carrick told reporters.
“From our point of view, the acknowledgement of what’s been done is enough to move on.”
The United manager’s comments suggest that the club has no immediate intention of allowing the incident to disrupt its plans, with Martinez remaining available for selection ahead of the Leeds encounter.
Carrick dismisses dressing-room crisis fears
Carrick also rejected suggestions that Martinez’s outburst had damaged the atmosphere within the Manchester United dressing room.
The incident attracted criticism from former United captains Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Gary Neville, who weighed in on the defender’s decision to speak publicly about the club’s hierarchy.
Despite the external criticism, Carrick maintained that the mood among the players remained positive and that public speculation did not reflect the situation inside the club.
“Just because people talk on the outside doesn’t mean that is the truth. I am telling you the truth,” he said.
“The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I have seen it for a while.”
The manager added that the players remained united despite the team’s recent results and the attention generated by Martinez’s comments.
According to Carrick, the squad’s commitment to the team’s objectives had not changed, insisting that the incident would not undermine the spirit he was building among the players.
“We are emotional and care a lot. Sometimes someone says something that maybe you shouldn’t say at that certain time, but it doesn’t distract us from what we are creating here and the environment and spirit within the group,” he said.
“It [the squad] is not affected, I am telling you.”
Martinez set for Leeds clash
Carrick confirmed that Martinez would be part of the Manchester United squad travelling to Elland Road for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United.
The confirmation comes after the defender’s apology over the timing of his remarks, which questioned the club’s transfer strategy and raised concerns about the direction of its football leadership.
Carrick’s decision to include Martinez indicates that the controversy has not resulted in an immediate exclusion from the first-team squad.
Manchester United will now turn their attention to the Leeds fixture as they seek to put the recent defeat to Atletico Madrid and the subsequent dispute behind them.
For Carrick, the priority is maintaining unity within the squad and ensuring that the players remain focused on their responsibilities on the pitch.
His public backing of Martinez also suggests that the club is keen to resolve the disagreement without allowing it to develop into a prolonged confrontation between the defender and the hierarchy.
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