Will Manchester United extend Lisandro Martinez's contract? Details here
What's the story
Lisandro Martinez's future at Manchester United is now in jeopardy after his scathing criticism of the club's management. There are real doubts about whether the Argentine defender's contract will be extended when it expires next summer. As part of their upcoming transfer strategy, United are looking to bolster their defense and have the option to extend Martinez's contract by another year.
Internal conflict
Martinez's comments on United's recruitment drive
Martinez's comments came after United's 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
He said, "I expect more from our technical director (meaning director of football, Jason Wilcox). We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete."
His remarks have drawn anger and bemusement from both United's boardroom and dressing room, as per Sky Sports News.
At least one player has confronted him over his comments as they returned to Manchester.
Transfer ambitions
Martinez wanted to join Atletico Madrid this summer
Martinez has been keen on leaving Old Trafford for some time now. He even pushed for a transfer to Atletico Madrid this summer, the same team that defeated United in the Champions League in Matchweek 2.
The move was mainly because of his close friend and international teammate Cristian Romero's switch from Spurs to Spain.
However, no suitable bid for Martinez was received by Manchester United during this period.
Previous incident
Explosive comments about Ajax sporting director in 2022
This isn't the first time Martinez has made explosive comments about his employers.
Back in 2022, while at Ajax and wanting a move away, he called their sporting director Gerry Hamstra a "nobody."
Despite these incidents, the 28-year-old remains an integral part of Michael Carrick's squad.
United's management realizes they need to handle this situation with care as any rift could severely affect their defense already plagued by injury and suspension.
Financial constraints
Manchester United's financial constraints limit their spending power
Despite recording record revenues of £678 million, Manchester United posted a pre-tax loss of £47 million and are paying interest on loans worth £70 million, the report further added.
The club is also burdened with huge debts to the Glazers.
These financial constraints have limited their spending power compared to rivals like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Information
United have been abysmal this season
United are 13th in the Premier League and own just one win from six matches (D3 L2). Michael Carrick's men were also ousted in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup by Brighton. In the Champions League, they won their first match before losing to Atletico in Spain.