Lisandro Martinez appears open to leaving Manchester United, having done little to help his situation by publicly criticising the club's previous transfer dealings. The Argentine defender has just one year remaining on his current contract at Old Trafford, although United hold an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months until June 2028.
Interest from Spain and Italy
Martinez continues to attract interest from across Europe, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona reportedly keeping tabs on the Manchester United defender. Spanish newspaper AS has reported that both clubs are monitoring his situation, with Atletico boss Diego Simeone already familiar with his fellow Argentine.
Should Martinez leave the club, Spain is understood to be his preferred destination. Simeone currently has four Argentina internationals as part of his squad, with Juan Musso, Cristian Romero, Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone. Former Tottenham defender Cristian Romero recently made his transfer preference clear when he named Argentina international teammate Martinez as the player he would most like to see join him at Atletico.
However, Atletico could face competition for the centre-back's signature, with AS reporting that Italian clubs Inter Milan, Roma and Como are also monitoring his situation. Como manager Cesc Fabregas could be in the market for defensive reinforcements next summer, with Jacobo Ramon's future potentially set to be resolved in the New Year.
Contract uncertainty and public criticism
Martinez has been keen to secure a new deal on improved terms since helping Argentina win the World Cup during his first season at United, but negotiations have failed to make significant progress. The Athletic previously reported that the 28-year-old is reluctant to extend his stay at Old Trafford, while United also have reservations about activating their option to prolong his contract.
Martinez, meanwhile, appears to have had a change of heart over committing his future to United. The defender recently questioned the club's ambition and criticised its director of football Jason Wilcox in a post-match interview following the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Speaking to Prime Video, Martinez said at the time: "Really poor performance, really poor. I have to control myself a lot. But sometimes it is the reflection, the mirror, for our club at the moment.
"A fantastic season last season, but now we are far from the top. We have to bring in more players to compete. Look at Atletico, they had an amazing team, they deserved to win. I expect more, from everyone."
When asked if he expected more investment in the squad, Martinez replied: "Yes, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest.
"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?"
Impact on United's defensive options
Martinez has since apologised but could still potentially leave the club, which would leave Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven as United's remaining options at centre-back. Michael Carrick's side also need to strengthen in both full-back positions.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are currently competing for the right-back spot, while Luke Shaw faces limited competition on the left, particularly with Patrick Dorgu occasionally being deployed in a more advanced role.
