Nicky Butt criticizes Lisandro Martinez for emotional response to punditry
Nicky Butt has launched a scathing attack on Lisandro Martinez, telling the Manchester United defender to “f***ing grow up” following his confrontational response to pundit criticism, reports BritPanorama.
The former United midfielder, who made 387 appearances for the club, expressed his views after Martinez challenged critics to confront him directly, even inviting them to his home, after United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday.
Butt deemed Martinez’s reaction as overly “emotional” and inappropriate for a player at an elite club. The spat was sparked by comments made by Butt and fellow pundit Paul Scholes on the Good, the Bad and the Football podcast, where Butt suggested that City striker Erling Haaland would “pick him up and run with him,” while Scholes speculated that Haaland would “score then throw him in the net”.
However, their predictions proved to be inaccurate as United secured an impressive victory, marking Michael Carrick’s first match as manager. Martinez was questioned about the pundits’ remarks and he responded defiantly, asserting his respect for former players who aim to help the club.
Butt clarified that his original remarks were never meant to be taken seriously, describing them as “tongue and cheek”. He emphasized, “We’re not on Sky doing commentary on a game. It’s quite obvious Haaland’s not going to pick you up and run with him. It’s f***ing obvious that. It’s a figure of speech.”
He maintained that there was no personal animosity towards Martinez but warned that criticism is part of the game at Old Trafford. Butt reflected, “You’re going to get your ups, you’re going to get your downs,” recalling the criticism he faced during his own playing days at United and Newcastle.
Martinez, meanwhile, reiterated that his motivation comes exclusively from his family and voiced his indifference towards critics, stating, “I don’t really care what they say. I just put the focus on my performance.” Scholes, however, remained sceptical about Martinez’s capabilities, suggesting that he is not convinced the team can win a league title with him.
Despite Saturday’s victory, the scrutiny of United’s defensive line continues, with attention turning to their upcoming match against Arsenal, where fans will be keen to see if Martinez can further prove his mettle in the Premier League following a challenging period for the club.
