Roy Keane has branded Manchester United “like a circus” after Lisandro Martinez criticised the club’s hierarchy over their summer transfer business.
Martinez spoke out after United’s 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, extending their winless run to five games.
The Argentina international expressed disappointment with the club’s summer recruitment, arguing that more investment was needed after securing Champions League qualification.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Keane said Martinez’s comments reflected the wider turmoil at Old Trafford, but questioned whether the defender was in a position to criticise the club while struggling to perform consistently.
“There will be some fans saying it’s great and some saying you’re letting the team down, especially from a player who hasn’t been at his best, when the team is struggling,” Keane said.
“I think as a reflection of the club, it’s obviously chaos there, like a bit of a circus.”
Keane added that players should examine their own performances before publicly criticising the club during a difficult period.
Martinez later addressed the controversy on social media, saying his comments had come from “anger and frustration”.
The 28-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, although Manchester United have the option to extend it by another year.
Keane also questioned Martinez’s standing as a senior figure within the squad, describing him as a centre-back who had been making too many mistakes.
Former United defender Gary Neville also criticised Martinez’s remarks, arguing that they amounted to a direct attack on his teammates.
Neville said senior players, including Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, would have reason to be angry because the comments suggested the current squad was not good enough to compete at the required level.
