Lisandro Martinez in Manchester United squad for Leeds trip after apology
Lisandro Martinez is set to be in Manchester United's squad for Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds United after he apologised for his public outburst about the club's hierarchy. Head coach Michael Carrick said the situation has been resolved and everyone has "moved on".
- Fixture: Leeds United vs Manchester United, Premier League
- Date: Sunday
- Kick-off: Not stated in source
- Venue: Elland Road (Leeds United's home ground)
- Headline: Lisandro Martinez set to be in the squad after apologising
- Key quote: Carrick — "He's released his statement and realised he made a mistake... That's enough for us to move on with."
Who said what
"He's released his statement and realised he made a mistake. That's enough for us to move on with. From our point of view, the acknowledgement of what's been done is enough to move on."
Carrick's message is deliberately final: the apology closes the matter. He faced questions on Friday about Martinez criticising the lack of investment in the transfer window, but offered no hint of further punishment. The phrasing — "acknowledgement... is enough" — puts the onus on Martinez to repay the trust on the pitch.
The dispute began after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Martinez met the club's hierarchy, including Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, and Carrick on Thursday before making an apology. With that process complete, Carrick has cleared the defender for Sunday.
What sparked the apology
Martinez's outspoken comments about the club's lack of transfer investment came immediately after a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. That result — a defeat, not a draw — sharpened the frustration. Rather than let the story run into the weekend, United moved quickly: a meeting on Thursday with football leadership, including Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, plus Carrick, then an apology from the player.
The speed matters because United travel to Leeds on Sunday. Any lingering friction between a senior defender and the hierarchy would have been the dominant narrative before a derby-style away game. Carrick's public line — that everyone has "moved on" — removes that distraction, at least externally.
Why Martinez's presence matters at Leeds
Martinez is a senior figure in United's back line, and Carrick's decision to keep him in the squad is a football call as much as a disciplinary one. The 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid exposed the kind of moments — set pieces, second balls, a defence stretched late — that a trip to Elland Road will test again.
By selecting him, Carrick signals that the apology is the end of the matter. It also spares United the awkwardness of leaving out a defender whose public complaint was precisely that the squad lacks investment. The head coach gets to keep the focus on Sunday's opponent rather than on a week of internal headlines.
The risk is obvious: one mistake from Martinez at Leeds and the outburst will be replayed. The reward is equally clear — a fully available senior defender for a demanding away fixture, with the hierarchy's authority publicly reasserted through an apology rather than a ban.
Talking points
- Carrick called the apology "enough". Is a public mistake excused that quickly, or does it set a precedent for other unhappy players?
- Martinez criticised a lack of transfer investment. Keeping him in the squad solves Sunday, but the underlying complaint about recruitment does not disappear.
- United met Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada on Thursday. That the hierarchy was in the room shows how seriously the outburst was treated, even if the outcome is no sanction.
- A 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid triggered all of this. If United lose at Leeds, the manager's handling of the week will be judged on the result, not the rhetoric.
What happens next
Manchester United travel to Leeds United on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Martinez is set to be in the squad. The result will determine whether Carrick's "moved on" line is remembered as calm management or as a missed chance to impose discipline.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lisandro Martinez playing for Manchester United against Leeds?
He is set to be in the squad for Sunday's trip to Leeds after apologising for his public outburst, according to the source.
When is Leeds vs Manchester United?
Sunday, live on Sky Sports. The exact kick-off time is not stated in the source.
What did Michael Carrick say about Martinez?
Carrick said Martinez had released his statement and realised he made a mistake, adding: "That's enough for us to move on with."
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