Martinez outburst puts Man Utd transfer chief Wilcox under pressure — SkimNews
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- Lisandro Martinez launched an explosive criticism of United's recruitment after a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid, saying the squad lacked summer investment and he expected more from "upstairs" — remarks at least one teammate confronted him about on the team plane home.
- Jason Wilcox retains the full backing of CEO Omar Berrada and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe despite the personal criticism, with Sky Sports News reporting United are committed to a strict, multi-window spending plan designed to avoid the costly long-term contracts of past mistakes.
- Manchester United spent approximately £158m on three central midfielders this summer — Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans — all of whom started in Madrid, while also paying £70m for Baleba after rejecting Brighton's £105m quote the previous year.
- United's finances are the central constraint, with record revenues of £678m in 2025/26 still producing a £47m pre-tax loss, meaning the next two transfer windows will target defence — where Martinez's own future will also be evaluated.
- United tried and failed to sign Antoine Semenyo and Elliot Anderson because Manchester City's wage and fee offers put the players out of United's reach, per Sky Sports News, illustrating what Rob Dorsett called the club's inability to "compete financially with the big guys."
- Manager Michael Carrick, sitting on no win in five and two wins in nine this season, is likely privately grateful for Martinez's comments because they publicly reinforce that the squad has been under-resourced, though technically the outburst is a breach of contract and could draw discipline.
Why it matters: Martinez's breach-of-contract outburst turns a dressing-room grievance into a public referendum on United's transfer model, just as the club prepares to address the very defensive weakness he plays in. With Carrick winless in five and the hierarchy already unable to match Manchester City's offers for Semenyo or Anderson, the next windows will test whether Wilcox's data-led, multi-year plan can survive a squad that is openly airing frustration.
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