Lisandro Martinez has publicly criticised Manchester United's hierarchy following their 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, becoming the latest player to speak out against the club. The defender's outburst has placed his future in doubt, but he is far from the first to turn on the club's leadership.
Martinez's tirade after Atletico defeat
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Martinez launched a withering attack on the club's hierarchy. He said he expected greater investment during the summer transfer window and specifically targeted technical director Jason Wilcox. The Argentine insisted the current squad lacks the calibre to challenge in the Champions League, while deflecting responsibility from his manager.
United's season has been dismal, with just one Premier League victory from six matches and elimination from the Carabao Cup following a 3-2 defeat to Brighton. On Saturday, they drew 1-1 with 10-man Tottenham, and Tuesday's European encounter ended in a 2-0 loss, with Leny Yoro sent off in the 74th minute before the second goal five minutes later.
Previous players who spoke out
Jadon Sancho, now a free agent, had a notable confrontation with manager Erik ten Hag in September 2023. After being excluded from the squad for a match against Arsenal, Sancho posted on social media: "Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that [are] completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into. I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!"
Sancho was subsequently loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January 2024, with spells at Chelsea and Aston Villa following before his United deal expired this summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo's second spell at United ended after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022. He said: "Manchester United tried to force me out." He added: "Not only the manager, but the other two or three guys who are around the club [at the senior executive level]. I felt betrayed. I don't care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed."
Ronaldo also took aim at the Glazer family, saying: "The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed." His contract was swiftly terminated, and he signed for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he remains at 41.
Dean Henderson, now at Crystal Palace, spoke to talkSPORT after his loan move to Nottingham Forest, saying: "It has probably been the toughest 12 months of my career." He added: "The conversation I had coming out of the Euros squad was, 'You're coming back here to be the No. 1.' I got Covid, came back, so I should have still been the No. 1, but then unfortunately nobody followed through with what they had told me." Henderson completed his switch to Palace in 2023 and has since won the FA Cup, Conference League and Community Shield with the Eagles.
