Lisandro Martinez-Paul Scholes rift: Fresh details emerge of failed ‘clear-the air’ talks

New information has surfaced regarding how a planned “clear-the-air” sitdown between Manchester United legend Paul Scholes and defender Lisandro Martinez failed to materialise.

Scholes is widely regarded as one of the most outspoken and critical former players when it comes to the current United squad.

The former England international has never shied away from saying exactly how he feels about the drastic decline in standards at Old Trafford.

In February this year, his opinions put him at loggerheads with Martinez. Scholes claimed that the Argentina international “isn’t good enough to win the Premier League.” Martinez took this with great exception and publicly fired back at Scholes.

Martinez posted on social media , “This jinx guy is really hurting….You put him in Argentina, and he wouldn’t survive.”

The exchange between the pair occurred shortly after Martinez sustained an ACL injury that he has just returned from.

Now, the Daily Mail reveal that there were plans for Martinez and Scholes to talk in an effort to make peace, but the conversation never happened.

According to the newspaper, “Last season United defender Lisandro Martinez took TV criticism from Scholes so personally that a clear-the-air meeting between the two was arranged. For reasons unknown, it never took place and perhaps it’s just as well.”

A source at broadcaster TNT told the Daily Mail, “Scholesy just says what he thinks.”

“If he doesn’t like you or rate you, he will just tell you. He’s one of the best blokes in the world. But he just can’t hide what he feels.”

However, it’s understood that the United dressing room don’t view it this way and feel that Scholes, alongside the likes of Gary Neville and Roy Keane, have often been unfair to them.

An agent close to the first team remarked, “The players feel the weight of what these guys say very deeply. They see all the clips and it really p****s them off.”

“Their view is that these guys know what it’s like to feel the pressure of being a United player so they want some level of understanding from them but feel they don’t get it.”

“Some players think the Class of ’92 actually don’t want them to succeed so their own legacy can be protected. So, yeah, the relationship has been bad. The lads certainly don’t want to be interviewed by them for TV. It’s gone way beyond that.”

United return to action on Monday when they go away to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The game kicks off at 8pm.

Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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