Manchester United defender [b]Lisandro Martinez[/b] has fired back at club legend [b]Paul Scholes[/b], calling his comments “unfortunate” after the former midfielder questioned his quality and commitment to the team.
The controversy began after Scholes, speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, claimed that even when fully fit, Martinez was not good enough to help Manchester United compete for the Premier League title.
“Even when he’s fit, he’s not good enough to win the Premier League,” Scholes said, sparking backlash from fans and Martinez himself.
The Argentine centre-back, who is currently sidelined with an ACL injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season, did not take Scholes’ remarks lightly. Taking to Instagram, he responded with a sharp clapback:
“This jinx guy is really hurting… You put him in Argentina, and he wouldn’t survive.”
Martinez’s response quickly gained traction on social media, with fans debating whether Scholes’ criticism was fair or overly harsh, considering the defender’s performances since joining United.
Scholes did not limit his criticism to Martinez alone. The former midfielder also cast doubt on the abilities of Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and young French defender Leny Yoro, both of whom have been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Regarding De Ligt, who moved to Bayern Munich from Juventus, Scholes expressed skepticism about his ability to elevate United’s defense:
“Not really. Where are your ambitions? I’m talking about getting a team to win the Premier League.”
Similarly, he dismissed Yoro’s potential, saying:
“He’s a young player, but I haven’t liked what I’ve seen so far.”
The debate over Martinez’s quality comes at a difficult time for Manchester United, as the club struggles for form in the Premier League. Their recent 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace has left them languishing in 13th place, piling further pressure on manager Ruben Amorim.
Despite their poor league position, United still have opportunities to salvage their season, as they remain in contention for both the Europa League and the FA Cup.
Fans continue to react to the heated exchange between Martinez and Scholes, with many defending the Argentine defender, while others side with the club legend’s harsh assessment of United’s squad.