Rio Ferdinand reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson would have reacted to Lisandro Martinez’s Man Utd rant

According to a report by Metro on Wednesday October 14, 2026, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Sir Alex Ferguson would not have tolerated Lisandro Martinez’s public criticism of the club’s hierarchy following their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Martinez questioned United’s recruitment and called on the club’s leadership to strengthen the squad, arguing that repeatedly changing managers would not solve all the team’s problems.

The Argentine defender also admitted that the players needed to improve but expressed disappointment with the club’s efforts to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand suggested that Martinez could have faced serious consequences under Ferguson, who was known for maintaining strict discipline during his time at Old Trafford.

“There’s not a chance,” Ferdinand said when asked whether Ferguson would have accepted such behaviour.

The former England international pointed to Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jaap Stam as examples of high-profile figures who left Manchester United following public criticism or disagreements involving the club.

Ferdinand also questioned whether Martinez had discussed his concerns with his teammates and the management before speaking publicly.

He warned that new signings could feel uncomfortable if they interpreted the defender’s comments as criticism of their quality or an indication that the squad was not strong enough.

Ferdinand recalled his own experience with Ferguson after disagreeing with a substitution during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich. He admitted that he was reprimanded after expressing his frustration and later apologised to the manager.

Despite the controversy surrounding Martinez’s comments, Ferdinand also called for patience with current manager Michael Carrick, urging Manchester United to give him an opportunity to turn the team’s fortunes around.

United have endured a difficult spell, going five matches without a victory across all competitions, increasing the pressure on Carrick ahead of their trip to Leeds.

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