Man Utd branded a circus by Keane after Martinez rant

Roy Keane and Steven Gerrard have slammed Manchester United after Lisandro Martinez launched a dramatic public assault on the club’s board and summer transfer dealings.

The defender took aim at director of football Jason Wilcox and the United hierarchy in two TV interviews following Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid, criticising a lack of recruitment and backing for manager Michael Carrick.

United are enduring their poorest opening to a league campaign since 1986, and Martinez’s fiery comments have drawn heavy scrutiny from prominent figures across the game.

Keane calls Old Trafford a circus

Former United skipper Keane pulled no punches when assessing the state of his old team following the defender’s outburst.

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Keane said:

“They’re obviously not together. It is chaotic there from the top to the bottom. We go there on match days and I don’t like the feeling around the club.”

The Irishman insisted the current climate around the club resembles a circus, highlighting the path that brought Carrick to the managerial hotseat.

Discussing the wider environment at Old Trafford, Keane added:

“It just seems chaotic – statements can reflect it. It was chaotic with how they got to Carrick as their manager.”

Keane also dismissed the idea that the Argentine is a leader in the squad, describing him instead as a centre-half who continues to make errors on the pitch.

Neville warns of dressing room damage

Gary Neville was similarly critical of Martinez, pointing out that calling for defensive reinforcements publicly damages his own team-mates.

Addressing the impact on young squad members, Neville told The Overlap:

“If you’re Leny Yoro or Ayden Heaven, and you’ve got a little doubt about settling into the first-team, and you’re a young player, you’re thinking: ‘My World Cup-winning centre-back has said we should have brought more players in so I don’t play,’ you’re really feeling nervous and anxious.”

Neville added that senior figures like Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire would be fuming with the defender for indirectly claiming the current squad is not good enough.

The former full-back also found it strange that Martinez singled out Wilcox, given transfer budgets are ultimately controlled by the club’s ownership.

Gerrard suspects ulterior contract motives

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard offered a different perspective, questioning whether the timing of the outburst conceals an underlying agenda.

Speaking on the same show, Gerrard said:

“I think there’s always a motive. I think that he’s thinking he’s asked for a new contract and they’ve said no or something, or maybe he himself may want to move on.”

Gerrard noted that raising such issues publicly in October, long before the January window opens, could be a tactic to engineer a route out of the club.

Reports suggest both the player and United have reservations about extending his contract beyond 2027, with Spain reportedly his preferred destination if he departs.

Dressing room tension and uncertainty

Martinez attempted to soften the impact of his original comments through a statement on Instagram, explaining that his post-match words came from anger and a desire to see United compete at the highest level.

However, reports indicate that at least one team-mate confronted him on the flight back from Spain, even if others share his frustration over squad depth.

United have not issued an official response to the incident, leaving Martinez potentially facing internal disciplinary action as uncertainty surrounds his long-term future.