Manchester United civil war: Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher slam Lisandro Martínez after board attack

Manchester United is going through a major internal storm after the 2-0 defeat to Atlético de Madrid. Explosive comments from Lisandro Martínez, pointing the finger at the board and the technical director, have sparked a wave of reactions from teammates, club legends and analysts. What happened on the pitch has taken a back seat to a fracture that threatens to blow the season apart.

• Amad Diallo called the dressing-room situation a disgrace on social media.
• Wayne Rooney accused Lisandro Martínez of having a hidden agenda behind the interview.
• Jamie Carragher blamed the lack of Champions League income for the club's transfer limits.
• Ashley Young and Paul Robinson also questioned the timing of Martínez's public outburst.

Amad Diallo's reaction and the unrest inside the United dressing room

The shockwaves from Martínez's words reached the dressing room first. Amad Diallo, a direct teammate of the Argentine centre-back, did not hold back in a Snapchat post after the loss to Atlético. The Ivorian winger described the team's current situation with unusual bluntness: an utter disgrace, with no words to add.

The message reflects the anxiety running through Old Trafford on a daily basis. It is not normal for a player to expose the mood of the group in such a way, especially after a European defeat. The image of unity the club tries to project is cracking with every public statement from its players.

Wayne Rooney says Lisandro Martínez had a hidden agenda

Manchester United's all-time top scorer was particularly sharp in his analysis on Amazon Prime. Wayne Rooney believes Martínez's appearance on camera just after the match was no coincidence. He thinks it was a calculated move, agreed in advance with his inner circle, and that the real message goes far beyond simple frustration.

Why does he give the interview right after this game? It looked planned. I think Lisandro had a hidden agenda, because it does not match the performance on the pitch.

Rooney went further, saying the Argentine's remarks are disrespectful to his own teammates. Suggesting the squad is not good enough erodes collective confidence at a time when all the focus is on the touchline. The former striker believes the board should review the case and probably take action.

Rooney also questioned Martínez's output since his arrival. Injuries have stopped him from connecting with the fans and from justifying the large fee the club paid for him. Although he admitted the team needs reinforcements in attack and defence, he made it clear the Argentine could be one of the first to leave if new faces arrive.

Jamie Carragher responds to Martínez's calls for more investment

Speaking on CBS Sports, Jamie Carragher dismantled the argument about lack of signings put forward by Lisandro Martínez. The Liverpool legend explained that Manchester United could not strengthen in the summer because their income from European competitions has fallen sharply in recent years. Just one Champions League qualification in five seasons cannot sustain spending of over 200 million euros every window.

Carragher also pointed out that the money spent this summer is tied to players bought years ago, leaving no room for further moves. In his view, the squad has underperformed and cannot shift all the blame onto the boardroom. He also labelled the Argentine defender's start to the season as awful.

Ashley Young and Paul Robinson compare United to a sinking ship

Other former Manchester United players joined the chorus of criticism. Ashley Young, a league champion with the club, understood that emotions run high after a match, but reminded everyone that signings cannot be improvised overnight. He noted the club has already invested in midfield and will not build a completely new team from one day to the next.

For Young, the key is that the players take responsibility. They are the ones on the pitch and they must perform. There will be no changes until January, and the dressing room must stay united. Paul Robinson, meanwhile, questioned the timing of the defender's outburst, given the noise surrounding the club and the need for a positive message from within.

The general feeling among pundits is that this kind of move echoes previous cases of players criticising the board and leaving through the back door. Sky Sports drew a parallel with what happened with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022. Martínez's contract runs until 2026 and his future at Old Trafford looks more uncertain than ever.

What Lisandro Martínez actually said to spark the fire

After the European defeat, Lisandro Martínez appeared in front of the Amazon Prime cameras and sent a direct message to the Old Trafford boardroom. He questioned the constant managerial changes and asked for other areas of the club to be examined. For the Argentine, talking only about the coach or the players is a far too easy analysis.

I expect more investment. 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director. We have to do more as players, but it is also important to have a strong team ready for a night like this.

The World Cup winner insisted that last season was fantastic and that the top executives had to respond by bringing in more players to compete. His words, far from remaining an isolated complaint, opened a debate that is now consuming the club from within.

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