Controversial football pundit Jamie Carragher has criticised Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez for calling out the Manchester United board over concerns about the club’s recruitment strategy.

After Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Martinez said he expected the club to invest more to strengthen the squad.

He also expressed disappointment with the technical director, arguing that the club should have built on the momentum established during the previous season.

Man United fall, Bayern stunned late as Arsenal and Barcelona shine in Champions League

However, the former Liverpool defender disagreed with Martinez’s claims, arguing that the club’s decision to slow down its recruitment spending was linked to its failure to qualify for the Champions League consistently, resulting in lost revenue.

Carragher also believes that the underperformance of players signed by the club has contributed to its recruitment problems.

“The reason why they didn't buy players in the summer is that in the last 4 or 5 years since Martinez has been there, I think they've been in the Champions League once this season. So if every season you don't get Champions League money, and every season Manchester United are spending £200 million in the transfer market, sooner or later it has to stop because the money's not there. So this summer, the money Manchester United are paying out, it's for players they've bought years ago, the next instalment of it. That's why there isn't that money there.”

Carragher also criticised Martinez for his performances at the start of the season, arguing that the defender and his teammates must share the blame for the club’s struggles.

“It doesn't mean you can't just keep going with it. And because, as I said, there's a squad of players with different managers, they haven't achieved enough. They've been awful. They were awful again tonight. And him as well, when he's talking at the start of this season, I think he's a good player, by the way. He's a World Cup winner. I get that. He's had an awful start to the season. Really poor. And yeah, people will lap it up. Manchester United fans will. That does nobody any good at all,” he added.

Watch the video below:

"I think it's awful that he's come out and said that... That does nobody any good at all."

@Carra23 weighs in on Lisandro Martínez's post-match comments following Manchester United's defeat 🗣️ https://t.co/mdXzr7Bu2R

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