Lisandro Martinez Vs Jason Wilcox: Could Man United Really Afford To Sell Him?

Lisandro Martinez's Man United future in doubt after pointed Wilcox comments

After taking aim at sporting director Jason Wilcox, Lisandro Martinez's future at Manchester United is under scrutiny. We dive into the Argentine's stats, his injury record and whether the Red Devils' back four can really afford to lose him.

Man United's Martinez dilemma, stats, injuries and impact if he leaves...

Sometimes silence says more than words, but Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez was in no mood to hold back after the Red Devils' Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, making his feelings crystal clear.

The Argentine centre-back was visibly frustrated with his own and his teammates' display at the Metropolitano, though his anger went far beyond that.

🚨 Lisandro Martínez: “We had a fantastic season last season… and now we expected more from the top, from the people upstairs, to bring in more players to compete”. “Many teams have signed a lot of players as well!”, told CBS. https://t.co/Zqnodm8Ir8

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 14, 2026

Martinez Pulls No Punches

In his post-match interview, Martinez let rip and took direct aim at the United board.

While he managed to temper his language slightly, he left the interviewer and viewers in absolutely no doubt about what he expects from the club.

Any board members watching would likely have bristled at being called out so publicly, and that may explain why there have already been suggestions that the 28-year-old is unlikely to have his contract renewed, or the one-year option in his current deal triggered.

His deal expires at the end of the 2026/27 season, meaning Martinez would be free to speak to other clubs from January.

 

🚨 Lisandro Martínez statement. ⤵️ Following everything that has been said about my comments yesterday, I want to share some thoughts on what I said and how I feel. After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted. Those who know me know how I live football, with passion, commitment and a huge desire to win. And when things don’t go our way, it hurts, especially when representing a club with the history and stature of Manchester United. My words reflect how I feel and how much I want to see this club competing for the biggest honours. Those high standards are part of how I see football and the responsibility that comes with wearing this shirt. When I talk about wanting more, I’m talking about the ambition we must all have as part of this club. To keep growing, to become stronger and to have everything we need to compete at the highest level. These are standards we must all hold ourselves to, starting with me. I know that, first and foremost, it’s us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility. We need to demand even more of ourselves and work together to take Manchester United back to the top. I believe in my teammates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward. I’m convinced that the way forward is to keep working together, with ambition and commitment. My goal has been the same since day one, to win, to compete at the highest level and to give everything I have for this badge.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 14, 2026

A History Of Speaking Out

It should not be forgotten that the player had wanted to join Atletico Madrid in the summer, but no offer materialised.

He also has previous in this regard. At Ajax in 2022, when pushing for a move away, he took aim at sporting director Gerry Hamstra, calling him a “nobody.”

It is notable, then, that it is United's sporting director, Jason Wilcox, who has borne the brunt of Martinez's pointed remarks on this occasion.

Were the Red Devils to decide to move the player on, how significantly could it impact the squad?

Mixed Numbers Since 2024/25

Since the start of the 2024/25 season, he has made 58 appearances in all competitions, 14 fewer than both Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire.

In that time, Martinez has scored two own goals, more than any other United player, and made 85 tackles, winning 51 of them for a success rate of 60%.

Lisandro Martinez's recent player ratings for Manchester United

Maguire's 61.19% and Matthijs de Ligt's 68.75% tackle success rates are both better than their teammate's, while Yoro (56.52%), Jonny Evans (56.25%) and Ayden Heaven (52.78%) all fare slightly worse.

When it comes to interceptions, Martinez's 66 are again bettered by Maguire (78) and Yoro (72), while headed clearances are not even a contest given the Argentine's smaller stature.

Lisandro Martinez's career stats in recent seasons

His 75 headed clearances pale in comparison to Maguire's 171, De Ligt's 113, and even United's full-backs, with Diogo Dalot (114) and Noussair Mazraoui (116) both recording more. Even Yoro's 80 headed clearances put him slightly ahead of his defensive partner.

The one area where Martinez does come out on top is winning back possession, which he has managed on 227 separate occasions since the start of 24/25.

Lisandro Martinez player radar - Premier League 2025/26

None of his fellow defenders come close, and only a handful of players, including central midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro, can boast a better return.

In terms of one-on-one duels, the centre-back has won 185 of the 306 he has contested, giving him a success rate of 60.46%.

For context, there are 17 other players, including Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire, Dalot, Luke Shaw and Mazraoui, who have contested more duels than the 28-year-old, which does not reflect well on a player who is thought to relish the physical side of the game. However, none of them can match his success rate.

Victor Lindelof and Yoro have a better pass completion rate than Martinez's 90.31%, but it is worth noting that the Argentine's 3,540 attempted passes are almost 3,000 more than Lindelof's 755 and close to 1,000 more than Yoro's 1,612.

Read Also: “I Spoke Out Of Anger” – Martinez Explains Man United Board Outburst

But do injuries undermine him?

Despite the strength of his outburst, Martinez deserves a place in the United XI, and the Red Devils' back four will likely be weaker without him.

11 - Lisandro Martínez made the most line-breaking of any player at the Emirates tonight, and leads all @ManUtd players in the Premier League since he returned to the starting XI on Boxing Day (55 in 6 games). Playmaker. https://t.co/8HNZfpLhh6

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 25, 2026

One other major concern, however, is how injury-prone the player has become.

Since the start of 24/25, he has suffered two separate calf injuries, a back issue, a serious knee problem and an unspecified injury.

The club could, if it chose to, still command a good fee for his services, though it would need to reinvest that money wisely if it decided to go down that route.

Were they to attempt to smooth things over, with the player also accepting of the situation, it will be interesting to see how much resonance Martinez's words have had with those in charge.

We can confirm that @LisandrMartinez suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament in Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Licha ❤️ #MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 6, 2025