Martinez apologises for outburst and fined by Man Utd

What the report says

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has apologised after criticising the club’s leadership in comments made after Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid. In a statement released after talks with the club on Thursday, the Argentina international said his frustration in the moment led him to speak in a way that was not appropriate and that he regretted those remarks.

The BBC reports that Martinez had argued United left head coach Michael Carrick with an under-resourced squad and said the club needed greater support around the technical side. Following the apology, it is understood he has also been fined by Manchester United as formal punishment for the outburst. Martinez said the meeting with the club’s leadership and the manager was positive and that he remained committed to the team and the club’s wider aims.

The episode comes at a difficult time for United, who are preparing to face Leeds United on Sunday. Carrick is due to speak at a news conference on Friday, and there is reported uncertainty over whether Martinez will be included in the squad. The wider backdrop is a poor start to the Premier League season, with United sitting 13th after six games. Separately, BBC Sport notes there is still uncertainty over Martinez’s long-term future, with his current contract due to expire next summer and the club holding an option to extend it by 12 months.