Lisandro Martinez apologises to Manchester United after criticising club hierarchy

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has apologised for publicly criticising the club’s hierarchy following their Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. According to Anadolu Agency, the Argentina international met United’s leadership and head coach Michael Carrick on Thursday before issuing an apology on Instagram.

“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity,” Martinez said. “The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”

The 28-year-old had questioned the club’s investment in the squad and demanded “more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox].” BBC Sport reported that he had been fined for his comments. Martinez acknowledged that his remarks had undermined unity, adding: “Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognise that my words in that moment did not help with that.”

United have won two of their first nine matches of the season and sit 13th in the Premier League with six points from six league games.