Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has lifted the lid on a fiery private exchange with current Red Devils defender Lisandro Martinez, revealing the Argentine told him he had 'lost all respect' for the former midfielder turned pundit.
The Podcast Jibe That Sparked the Feud
The latest chapter in their ongoing spat unfolded ahead of last Saturday's Manchester derby. On 'The Good, The Bad & The Football' podcast, Scholes and fellow ex-United star Nicky Butt questioned whether Martinez could physically handle marking Manchester City's Erling Haaland.
Butt joked that Haaland 'would pick Martinez up and run with him' like a parent with a toddler, while Scholes added the Norwegian would 'score then throw him in the net'. The comments, focusing on Martinez's stature, were intended as tongue-in-cheek but clearly struck a nerve.
Martinez's Response and Scholes' Revelation
Martinez answered his critics in the perfect manner on the pitch, delivering a superb performance to help United secure a shock 2-0 victory at Old Trafford in Michael Carrick's first match as interim manager. After the match, Martinez publicly retorted that he 'didn't care' about Scholes's remarks and invited him to say it to his face.
Now, Scholes has provided further context, disclosing that this was not their first heated interaction. 'We exchanged messages on Instagram quite some time ago,' Scholes explained on the podcast's follow-up episode. 'He just said that he'd lost all respect for me.'
Scholes admitted his pre-derby comments could have been 'worded better' but defended them as banter. He also suggested that dealing with criticism is part of being a United player, citing how his own legendary generation handled scrutiny.
Butt's Blunt Assessment and Silverware Doubts
Co-host Nicky Butt was less conciliatory, telling Martinez to 'f***ing grow up' and accept that media criticism comes with the territory at a club of United's magnitude. He stressed neither he nor Scholes had a personal issue with the defender.
Despite praising Martinez's derby display, Scholes remains unconvinced about his long-term impact. 'I haven't changed my opinion yet,' Scholes stated. 'I'm still not sure that you can win a league with him.' He challenged the World Cup winner to maintain that level consistently, starting with United's upcoming clash against Arsenal.
The saga highlights the intense scrutiny at Old Trafford and the modern dynamic between club legends in the media and the current players tasked with upholding the club's standards.
