Roy Keane Manchester United criticism reached a new pitch on Thursday as the former captain described the club as “like a circus” following Lisandro Martinez’s explosive attack on the hierarchy.
Keane made the remarks on The Overlap podcast after the Argentine defender publicly criticised the club’s leadership in the wake of Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
What Martinez said
The 28-year-old defender criticised United’s hierarchy for failing to strengthen the squad after Champions League qualification, following a third-place Premier League finish last season under Michael Carrick. Martinez said he had expected more investment in the playing squad and “more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]”.
Martinez later said on social media on Wednesday that he had spoken out of “anger and frustration” after the defeat in Madrid.
Keane: “start with the man in the mirror”
Speaking on the podcast, Keane said Martinez’s comments reflected the state of the club as a whole.
“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. When you’re going through a difficult spell like United are, the issue I have with certain players saying things is you always have to start with the man in the mirror before you start coming out with all these comments.”
Keane added that he did not expect a major falling-out, but questioned the character in the squad: “I don’t think there’s enough characters, enough men in there. But I don’t see him as a senior player at Manchester United. I see him as a centre-half who’s making lots of mistakes.”
The contract question hanging over Martinez
The row comes at an awkward moment for both player and club. Martinez’s contract expires at the end of the ongoing campaign, with United holding the option to extend it by another year.
The clause gives the club breathing room, but the public criticism has sharpened the debate over whether an extension is the right call. For United, the episode adds to a difficult early-season picture. The loss in Madrid deepened the sense of crisis around Old Trafford, and the club now face a trip to Leeds United on Sunday in the Premier League with the spotlight firmly on the dressing room.
Roy Keane Manchester United verdict: why it matters
Keane’s relationship with the club gives his verdict extra bite. As a former captain who played under Sir Alex Ferguson during United’s dominant era, his standard for dressing-room discipline is famously unforgiving. When he says the club resembles a circus, it lands as a judgement from inside the culture rather than from the outside.
Beyond England, football’s calendar keeps moving: Saudi Arabia’s 2027 Asian Cup could shift to 2028, and FIFA postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 in Jeddah after attacks on Saudi Arabia.
What happens next
United travel to Leeds United on Sunday, and the build-up will be dominated by questions about the dressing room rather than tactics. A win would ease the pressure; another defeat would turn the circus metaphor into the defining image of the season’s opening months.
Martinez’s own future is the other thread to watch. With the one-year option in United’s hands, the club must decide whether to back a player who has publicly challenged its leadership, or let the contract run down.
FAQ
What did Roy Keane say about Manchester United?
On The Overlap podcast, Keane said the club was “like a circus” and “chaos”, adding that struggling players should “start with the man in the mirror” before criticising the club publicly.
Why did Lisandro Martinez criticise Manchester United’s hierarchy?
After the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, Martinez criticised the hierarchy for not strengthening the squad following Champions League qualification, saying he expected more investment and more from technical director Jason Wilcox.
When does Lisandro Martinez’s contract expire?
His contract expires at the end of the ongoing campaign, with Manchester United holding an option to extend it by one year.
When do Manchester United play next?
United travel to Leeds United on Sunday in the Premier League.
