Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young have hit out at Lisandro Martinez after his explosive rant against the Manchester United hierarchy.
After the Red Devils lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the defender slammed the club’s recruitment, or lack of recruitment, over the summer.
‘We had a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, from up, to bring more players to compete, because many teams bring many players as well,’ the Argentina international told Amazon Prime. ‘Today Atletico have an amazing team and deserve to win today.
‘I expect more. I expect more from our technical director, but I have to be honest we as players have to do more, but it’s important that we make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.’
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On criticism of manager Michael Carrick, he added: ‘Changing, changing, changing managers, but what about other areas? I can’t say more,’ he said.
‘Tonight it’s easy to say the coach, it’s easy to say the players but also we have to say other areas.’
Rooney felt there was some truth in the comments, having himself criticised the lack of additions in defence, especially at left-back, but felt Martinez did not need to cause controversy in that manner.
‘It’s a difficult one, because I always felt I was outspoken as a player and you want to have your opinion, but I think he’s gone a bit too far,’ said Rooney.
‘The fans want to hear the players speak and care, you can clearly hear that he cares and want the club to invest more money in more players. To do that he’d probably be one of the players who’s out the door!
‘In some ways he is right, in terms of the club needs to invest more in the top end of the pitch and the defence, but that seems like a bit of an agenda, that he’s wanted to say that because that doesn’t mirror the performance.
‘I think its a bit disrespectful to his teammates as well, he’s disrespecting his teammates, he’s saying the team aren’t good enough. I think Bruno [Fernandes] is probably the only one who has any right to come out and say anything like that, as captain, but even then it should be behind closed doors.
‘I think that interview is not going to help the situation the club is in at the minute. It’s going to bring greater noise, players are unhappy, they don’t trust their own teammates, that’s not going to help at all.’
Rooney remembered making a similar point himself during his Manchester United playing days, but only in private, and still apologised for his actions.
‘He’s trying to speak on behalf of the players but I think he’s done it in the wrong way,’ said the former England striker. ‘It’s disrespectful to his teammates.
‘I had a similar situation when I went in and asked Alex Ferguson about what players we’re bringing in and I apologised two days later. I can speak from experience on what he’s just done.
‘I think it is very disrespectful, there are a lot of young players in that dressing room looking for some guidance from experienced players and that hasn’t helped.
Lisandro Martínez did NOT hold back after United's loss to Atletico 😬👀 pic.twitter.com/OGo25Pzd30
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) October 13, 2026
‘The board have to look at that and probably have to take some action on that because that’s disrespecting the whole football club.’
Young suggested Martinez was not being realistic with his complaints and his comments are only going to cause more problems for a Manchester United side that has won just one of their first six Premier League games this season.
‘We spoke before the game about how the club needed to invest more, but what does he want? For them to buy a whole new team? They’re not going to do that. There’s going to be no change now until January and that transfer window,’ said Young.
‘Other players will see that interview and think, “What’s he talking about? We need to stick together.” With an interview like that, that could have fractions throughout the squad and derail what this performance was tonight, which was a good performance.
‘It’s not needed at all. The pressure that’s building, going to play Leeds away, you don’t need it.
‘I don’t feel like he’s got the right to be saying anything like that in that way.’
Rooney reckons it was a personal agenda from Martinez and fears that there could be serious issues in the Manchester United squad as a result.
‘It looks like a player trying to look after himself, in my opinion,’ said Rooney. ‘He’s probably disappointed he hasn’t been offered a new contract and there’s reasons for him not being offered a new contract, Martinez.
‘I think it was very premeditated. Why is he doing the interview after this game? Has he put himself forward? It looked a bit premediated and maybe something he spoke about with his team, his agent or whatever.
‘It’s just sad because when you need everyone to stick together…as players, you cant control what’s going on above you, you need the players, the manager, the coaching staff to stick together and be as one when you’re going through a difficult time. Otherwise something like that will rip that dressing room apart.’
On the field it was a goal in the opening minute from Pablo Barrios and a late second from Ademola Lookman after Leny Yoro was shown a straight red card that saw United reach five games without a win in all competitions.