By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Manchester United has come under scrutiny following his public criticism of the club’s leadership over its transfer policy.

The Argentine defender reportedly faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford, with doubts emerging over whether the club will extend his contract when it expires next summer.

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have the option to extend Martinez’s deal for another year but are yet to decide whether to activate the clause. The club is also expected to prioritise strengthening its defence during the next transfer windows.

Martinez’s outburst followed United’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, after which he expressed disappointment with the club’s recruitment strategy.

“I expect more from our technical director (meaning director of football, Jason Wilcox). We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete,” the defender said.

His remarks have reportedly caused anger and confusion among senior officials and some members of the dressing room. Sky Sports reported that at least one teammate challenged Martinez over his comments as the squad prepared to return to Manchester.

The suggestion that the club had failed to provide enough quality players to compete at the highest level has also reportedly upset some teammates, who may have interpreted the remarks as criticism of the squad.

Despite the controversy, there is reportedly no internal pressure on Wilcox regarding his position at the club.

The 28-year-old has reportedly been keen to leave Manchester United for some time and pushed for a move to Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window.

He was interested in joining the Spanish club, which defeated United in the Champions League, to follow his close friend and Argentina teammate Cristian Romero, who moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Spain.

However, Manchester United did not receive a suitable offer for the defender, leaving him at Old Trafford.

Martinez has previously made strong public comments about club officials. In 2022, while at Ajax, he reportedly referred to the Dutch club’s sporting director, Gerry Hamstra, as a “nobody” amid uncertainty over his own future.

United are aware that the current situation requires careful handling, particularly because Martinez remains an important member of manager Michael Carrick’s squad.

A breakdown in relations between the defender and the club could further complicate United’s defensive problems, which have been worsened by injuries and suspensions.

Ayden Heaven was deployed out of position at left-back against Atletico Madrid, while Leny Yoro’s red card at the Metropolitano Stadium means he will miss one European match.

Harry Maguire’s playing time is also being managed to avoid overloading the 33-year-old defender. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw remains injured, with no confirmed return date, while Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui have also been unavailable because of fitness concerns.

Sky Sports football correspondent Rob Dorsett explained that Manchester United’s financial position limits their ability to compete with rivals such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in the transfer market.

Although the club recorded a record revenue of £678 million, it still reported a pre-tax loss of £47 million and faced £70 million in interest payments on loans.

The club also has substantial financial obligations to the Glazer family, making it difficult to match the spending power of some of its competitors.

According to Dorsett, United have adopted a targeted recruitment strategy, focusing on different areas of the squad over successive transfer windows.

Two summers ago, the club concentrated on strengthening its attack. This summer, attention shifted to midfield after Casemiro’s departure left Kobbie Mainoo as the only senior midfielder available.

United subsequently spent £156 million on three midfielders, all of whom started against Atletico Madrid and are expected to play important roles in the team’s future.

The next priority is strengthening the defence, particularly at left-back and centre-back.

However, the club has faced criticism from supporters over its lack of experienced options at left-back. United’s position is reportedly that spending money on a temporary solution would be unwise when the club intends to sign a long-term option in the summer.

Dorsett added that United could not afford their preferred targets, including Myles Lewis-Skelly and Lewis Hall.

The situation highlights the tension between the club’s long-term recruitment plans and supporters’ expectations that Manchester United should be competing financially with Europe’s biggest clubs.

Former Arsenal midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson also expressed disappointment over Manchester United’s inability to compete for some of their preferred transfer targets.

Merson stressed that building a successful team requires a strong defence, arguing that defensive weaknesses could undermine the entire squad.

He also discussed several midfield options, including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans, while questioning Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as a potential signing for United.

The pundit said it was disappointing that a club of Manchester United’s stature could struggle to afford players such as Lewis-Skelly and Lewis Hall.

Reflecting on the club’s decline from its dominant position two decades ago, Merson said United remained one of the biggest football brands in the world but were no longer able to operate in the transfer market as they once did.

He argued that rival clubs could spend the same amount United used to recruit three midfielders on a single established player, while United increasingly had to pursue deals for players whose long-term quality remained uncertain.

Merson described the club as being in a position where it had to search for bargains and develop potential rather than consistently signing proven stars.

With Martinez’s future now uncertain and defensive reinforcements expected to be a priority, Manchester United face important decisions both on and off the pitch as they attempt to rebuild the squad and restore their competitiveness.