Martínez says sorry to United’s Wilcox over recruitment criticism
Lisandro Martínez has apologised to Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox after criticising the club’s summer recruitment following a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid. He said frustration had led him to speak at the wrong time and place, and the apology followed talks with manager Michael Carrick and club executives.
The club will not disclose any disciplinary action, though Martínez is thought to have been fined. United spent £155m on three midfielders, despite Wilcox targeting a left-back. The squad is reportedly frustrated with recruitment, while Carrick faces pressure after United took six points from their first six league games, their worst start to a league season since 1986, and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
- Martínez apologised to Wilcox after criticising summer recruitment.
- United spent £155m on three midfielders.
- Carrick’s side have six points from six league games.
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Manchester United is an English football club whose director of football, Jason Wilcox, oversees its recruitment plans. Transfers are shaped by the manager’s view of what the squad needs and by the club’s decisions about which players to buy.
United spent £155m on three midfielders during the summer, while Wilcox had also been seeking a left-back. Lisandro Martínez, a United defender, criticised the recruitment after a defeat by Atlético Madrid; manager Michael Carrick and club executives are also involved in discussions about the team.
Recruitment matters because it affects the positions and options available to the manager. United’s results have added scrutiny: the team made a poor start to its league season and was eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Martínez’s public criticism may have voiced concerns shared across the squad about whether recruitment addressed the team’s needs, and open scrutiny can help a club learn from poor results. Supporters may also expect senior players to speak candidly when decisions affect performance, even if the timing and setting were regrettable.
The case against
Publicly challenging the recruitment strategy can undermine Wilcox and create division at a time when the squad and manager need to work together. Decisions about transfers belong to club leadership, which must balance different positions, budgets and longer-term plans; Martínez’s apology recognises that frustration does not excuse airing the dispute after a defeat.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Martínez apologises to Manchester United’s director of football Wilcox after outburst”.