The public dispute between Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and club icons Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt has escalated following fresh comments from the former players.
“Do It Over Time”: Scholes and Butt Stand Firm in Martinez Dispute
The tension originated when Scholes and Butt, speaking on a podcast before United’s derby clash with Manchester City, suggested City striker Erling Haaland would physically dominate Martinez.
The Argentine defender answered his critics emphatically on the pitch, delivering a standout performance in United’s 2-0 victory and successfully stifling Haaland.
After the match, Martinez fired back, challenging the critics to confront him directly and stating he did not “care what they say.”
Now, Butt and Scholes have responded forcefully. Appearing on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Butt dismissed Martinez’s reaction, telling the defender to “grow up.”
He clarified his original Haaland comment was a tongue-in-cheek figure of speech and argued that players at major clubs must withstand media criticism without becoming emotional.
“There’s no personal issue,” Butt stated.
“If you’re going to get so emotional about someone saying something about you, you shouldn’t be at a big football club.”
Scholes also doubled down, praising Martinez’s derby performance but maintaining his long-term doubts.
“I haven’t changed my opinion yet,” Scholes said. “I’m still not sure you can win a league with him.”
He warned that consistency over a sustained period, not one brilliant game, defines a player’s impact.
Both former midfielders pointed to their own experiences with criticism during their playing careers, suggesting it comes with the territory at Old Trafford.
The exchange reveals a deepening clash between modern player mentality and the perspectives of former stars, with neither side showing any sign of backing down.
As the war of words continues, all attention now turns to whether Martinez can use the ongoing scrutiny as fuel for the consistent excellence his critics demand.
