Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has reignited a war of words with defender Lisandro Martinez following Manchester United's recent 2-0 victory over Manchester City. The feud, which initially sparked from Scholes' criticism of Martinez's ability to handle Erling Haaland, has escalated into a public back-and-forth, with Martinez even inviting Scholes to voice his concerns directly to him, even at his home.
Ahead of the Manchester derby, Scholes, alongside Nicky Butt on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, cast doubt on Martinez's capabilities against the imposing Haaland. Butt suggested Haaland would "pick Martinez up and run with him," while Scholes joked that the Argentine would be "thrown into the net".
However, Martinez silenced his critics with a stellar performance, effectively neutralizing Haaland and contributing to United's clean sheet. Following the match, Martinez responded to Scholes' pre-match comments with a defiant challenge: "Honestly, he can say whatever he wants. I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to me wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don't care". He further stated his respect for former players who aim to assist the club, while pointing out that people are willing to speak on television but say nothing face to face.
Scholes, known for his outspoken nature, responded to Martinez's invitation via an Instagram post: "Someone's had a good game, was really happy for you… Tea, no sugar pls @lisandromartinezzz". The former United midfielder also revealed a previous exchange of messages with Martinez, where the defender expressed his disappointment with Scholes' earlier criticisms. According to Scholes, Martinez had stated he had "lost all respect" for him. Scholes admitted to being shocked by the outrage.
Butt has also weighed in on the matter, advising Martinez to "f*cking grow up" and suggesting that he "shouldn't be at a big club" if he cannot handle criticism. Despite the harsh words, Butt acknowledged Martinez's strong performance in the derby, stating, "First and foremost, he was brilliant on the day and fair play to him". He also said that what is expected of Martinez is to give excellent performance every week.
The club is reportedly unhappy with Scholes and Butt's comments, particularly given Martinez's recent return from a serious knee injury.
Despite the ongoing feud, Martinez maintains that his motivation comes from his family and his commitment to Manchester United. He emphasized the importance of the connection with the fans and representing them with the right attitude, tackles, and "the DNA, the blood of Manchester United".
