Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United have a “big decision” to make regarding Lisandro Martinez, after the centre-half publicly lambasted club officials. The Argentine defender criticised those who handle transfer strategy in the aftermath of United’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Martinez explained how he feels more work needed to be done this summer, and that United did not have the players to compete in the European top flight despite welcoming a number of midfield additions. He also said questions need to be asked about technical director Jason Wilcox, instead of Michael Carrick, who can only control so much.
Ferdinand’s warning over dressing room reaction
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the 47-year-old said: “I think there’s a couple of things you have to consider before you make a real detailed assessment. You’ve got to understand what the relationship he has in the changing room is. Has this been discussed between the players before he goes out there? So the new signings like [Youri] Tielemans, [Carlos] Baleba, [Andre] Santos - and the guys are fully aware of the context of what he is saying.”
“And has he spoken to the management? Those questions, I think, you would need to have the answers to. And I think if I was a player, I would have liked him to come to me first, or to address the dressing room first before he went and spoke publicly like that.”
“These things don’t end well, man. They don’t end well. Roy Keane spoke publicly, there could have been no bigger player than him who was the captain at the time, and he left days later. Cristiano Ronaldo called out individuals within the club, the manager, the ownership. He left straight after.”
“Ralf Rangnick looked like he was going to be there for a couple of years as interim manager. Called out and said things needed to be done. And I’m not disagreeing with what some of these guys have said, by the way. I’m just saying this is what happens when someone talks out about the hierarchy at the football club.”
Impact on new signings
Ferdinand also explained that he hopes Martinez spoke to players in the dressing room first, given the knock-on effect it could have within the team dynamic. He added: “I don't think it's cool for players to be hearing this firstly in the media rather than face-to-face with one of your team-mates, which makes it an awkward situation in the dressing room.”
“I'm just thinking about it as a player. How would I feel if I was one of the new guys who came in? And how it sounds in the media is that the players who have come in, one, I don't know if they're the level, but also, we haven't got enough players to compete at this level.”
“I would definitely then be going, 'What does he think of me?' That's the question I'd be thinking. But then I think it's the reaction. He's going to see this reaction and, you know what, Lisandro Martinez is a straight-up guy.”
“This tells you that, and I think he'll meet this head on. And I think that seeing the reaction, he will then go into the team and say, 'Listen guys, this is how it is. This is what I said. If it came across differently to the way I really meant it because of the language barrier, then so be it. But this is what I really meant.' And I think he'll probably do that, I've got to be honest with you.”
The decision facing United
As for what happens to Martinez, Ferdinand explained: “The club now have a decision to make. You look at it from the club's perspective; if they do nothing then it looks like a weakness. It sets a precedent for other players to think if they have a problem they can speak out.”
“They can shout and say what they want publicly in the media. Or do the club take the stance that we show the rest of the squad, any young players coming in, any players that we sign in the future, that there will be consequences when something like this happens?”
“This is the big decision the club have to make. Or is it a big decision? Or is it simple for the club now, given what's been said?”
