Manchester United’s Martinez blasts board’s lack of investment

Published On 13 Oct 202613 Oct 2026.

Key points

• Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney remarked Martinez's criticism was excessive.
• "Really poor, " Martinez informed Amazon Prime when asked concerning the team's performance against Atletico.
• Pressure is mounting on coach Michael Carrick after five games without a win, but Martinez suggested sacking the Englishman was not the way forward.
• Red Devils minority owner Jim Ratcliffe was at the stadium to watch the league-phase defeat by last season's semi-finalists.
• Speaking to reporters after the game, Carrick remarked he had not heard Martinez's comments and so could not judge them.

After the team were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez blasted the club's board for a perceived lack of investment this summer.

United are winless in five games throughout all competitions after the 2-0 defeat in the Spanish capital and have produced their worst start to a league season in 40 years.

"I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection. Mirror of how our club is at the moment."

Martinez remarked he "100 percent" anticipated more investment in the squad over the summer after United finished third in the Premier League last season and returned to Europe's top competition.

"I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest, as players we have to do more, but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for these kind of nights, " he continued.

Martinez remarked last season the club had "created the base to create an amazing team", but they did not follow through.

"You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What regarding other areas? I can't say more, " remarked Martinez.

"Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas."

Man United spent around 140 million pounds ($185m) this summer on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but fans were upset the club did not reinforce other positions, including left-back and striker.

"I think it's a little bit on the emotions of the game as well, of coming here and being disappointed not to get something from the game, " remarked the coach.

"I think he's maybe gone a bit too far, and that should have stayed internal, " Rooney informed Amazon Prime.

"You can clearly see that he cares and he wants the club to invest more money in more players, and to do that he's probably one of the players who'll be out the door if I'm being honest."

In short, manchester United's Martinez blasts board's lack of investment is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.