Manchester United intervene after bizarre Lisandro Martínez interview

Manchester United have fined Lisandro Martínez over his scathing interview after the 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid, the BBC report. His future at Old Trafford is in doubt. Manager Michael Carrick summoned the former Ajax player on Thursday, and Martínez has since apologised publicly.

After the match against Atlético Madrid, Martínez criticised sporting director Jason Wilcox, arguing that he had not done enough to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window. "We performed fantastically last season and now we expect more from the club's leadership," he told Amazon Prime at the time.

"Signings who can compete, because many other teams are also bringing in a lot of players," Martínez added. In an initial statement, the defender said he had spoken out of anger and frustration. His words, he explained, came from his ambition to compete for the biggest trophies with Manchester United.

Martínez has since spoken with Carrick and the club's directors. "Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation in which we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after the match," he writes.

"Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I experience football with great intensity," the defender continues. "The frustration of the defeat led me to express my feelings at a time and place that perhaps were not right, and for that I want to apologise."

Martínez also acknowledges that his comments did not help unite Manchester United. "Our club are at their best when we are all united, and I realise that my words at that moment did not help with that," the defender says.

Convinced that everyone at the club is pursuing the same goal, Martínez adds: "I know that everyone at Manchester United is doing everything they can to fulfil our shared ambition: to achieve the success this club and their supporters deserve."

Martínez wants his apology to put the unrest behind him once and for all. "Now that this situation is behind us, we are fully focused on winning together," the defender concludes.