Nicky Butt: Lisandro Martinez 'Not Good Enough for Man Utd' Right Now

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He has been a regular starter for Manchester United this season under Michael Carrick

Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has now had his say on the Lisandro Martinez saga, and has launched a scathing attack on the Argentina international for his outburst, given his current performances.

Martinez shocked everyone by publicly criticising Man United director of football Jason Wilcox following last week's Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, before a social media post and eventual apology emerged following an internal meeting.

The Red Devils drew a line under the incident and the 28-year-old was named in the starting line-up for Sunday's trip to Leeds United, although he was replaced at half-time after picking up a knock against Daniel Farke's men.

United had kept a clean sheet up until the £56m Argentine's substitution, before conceding the equaliser from Dominic Calvert-Lewin just six minutes into the second half.

Still, Martinez has been part of a United defence that has struggled this season, with the club conceding two goals each in matches against Hull City, Ipswich Town, Everton and Atletico, while they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Brighton and Hove Albion in the EFL Cup against Old Trafford.

Many believe that United chiefs made a mistake not signing any new defenders during the summer transfer window, given they are positions where a freshen-up looks to be needed.

Carrick's Record as Man United Manager

There were some plans to bring in a new left-back, following links with Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde, but the only three new arrivals were all in central midfield.

Butt is less than impressed with Martinez targeting the club's hierarchy, especially when he is a player he doesn't believe is delivering on the pitch.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, former United midfielder Butt made his feelings clear on the situation.

He said: > "You don't come out and speak about the hierarchy like that. If you do, you've got to be playing at the elite highest level of your game and being able to win things. > > "Now we played with certain players that had their opinions. Famously, Roy [Keane] was very outspoken, said a lot of things, but his level of performance at the time when he was saying these things, whether it's right or wrong, that's another argument. But his level of performance week in week out was there. You know, one of the best in Europe. > > "Now, it's still not right talking out. You can't do that, and punishments come. However, I think with Martinez, what he's basically saying is the players that I'm playing with aren't good enough. > > Now, you can't say that when you're in changing rooms. I don't think you can say that, and even more so when you're playing at a level that is not good enough for Man United. That's no disrespect to Martinez. It's just the way it is at the minute.

Butt is right because the United backline, more often than not this season, simply hasn't been good enough.

If United want to be genuine Premier League title contenders in the next few years, they need to improve significantly from a defensive standpoint, especially when you consider the reigning champions, Arsenal, arguably have the best defence in the whole of Europe.

Martinez isn't consistent enough to speak out against the club's hierarchy, and the irony is that if United had strengthened their defence over the summer transfer window, the Argentine may not even be playing.

The 28-year-old now needs to do his talking on the pitch in the coming weeks, to get United back up the table ahead of what could be a huge 2027 in terms of their transfer business.

Manchester United have made a poor start to the 2026-27 season

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