Michael Carrick says fine margins are costing Man Utd after draw against Fulham
Lisandro Martinez has taken steps to build bridges at Manchester United after criticising the club’s hierarchy in an explosive interview this week.
Speaking after Tuesday night’s defeat by Atletico Madrid, the Argentine centre-back gave a stunning interview in which he bemoaned United’s lack of movement in the summer transfer market and went so far as to criticise his team-mates’ effort levels at the Metropolitano.
It was reported in the immediate aftermath of the incident that United’s squad had taken Martinez’s comments poorly, with at least one player confronting him on the flight back to Manchester.
Thus, there was speculation he might be dropped for this weekend’s trip to Leeds as punishment for his outburst.
He has, however, since held clear-the-air talks with Michael Carrick, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, and issued a public apology to the club, its fans and his team-mates.
Martinez wrote on his Instagram: “Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity. 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.
“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.”
Will Lisandro Martinez be punished by Man Utd?
Yes. Per reports from BBC Sport, Martinez has been hit with a fine by Manchester United in the aftermath of his meeting with Carrick and the club’s higher-ups.
Crucially, though, he has been made available to face Leeds this weekend, in a slight boost for Carrick.
It remains to be seen whether he will feature at Elland Road, though, with that decision down to Carrick.
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Martinez’s long-term future with the club remains in flux. He will be out of contract in the summer and it is not yet clear whether he will be offered a new deal, or if he would accept one should an offer come in.