Rio Ferdinand has conjured his own theory about Lisandro Martinez after the Manchester United and Argentina defender’s erratic 2026-27 campaign at Old Trafford.

Lisandro Martinez has been in the limelight on two occasions this season and both have been for the wrong reasons for the 28-year-old Argentine centre-back.

Rio Ferdinand thinks Lisandro Martinez is still playing for Man Utd because of the lack of alternatives to replace him

Lisandro Martinez has made 10 appearances across all competitions this season and the 2022 World Cup winner has been criticised for his performances. While the former Ajax star’s form has been brought into question, Martinez has still managed to make nine starts in the 10 matches that have featured him in the 2026-27 campaign.

Speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand feels that the out-of-form Martinez is benefiting from the fact that Michael Carrick is lacking alternative options to him.

“I think he’s probably lucky right now that Manchester United are in a position they’re in,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“That they don’t feel there’s [sic] other players that they want to put in there right now and just put him out of the team.

“Manchester United aren’t in a place where they can just go to a player, ‘Listen, you, for stepping out of line, you’re out.’”

Matthijs de Ligt has been unable to challenge for a place in the starting XI on a regular basis this season after only returning from a long-term back injury. The 27-year-old Netherlands international started United’s 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League last month because of suspensions and injuries that Michael Carrick faced for other players, including Martinez.

Leny Yoro has also been unable to challenge for a regular place at centre-back this season after United manager Carrick has been using him as a right-back alternative. Ayden Heaven, on the other hand, has been used as a makeshift left-back at times and missed matches due to illness in the 2026-27 campaign.

Carrick has been limited with left-sided centre-back partners alongside Harry Maguire, as former Ajax star Martinez benefits more from the role due to his left-footed ball-playing ability.

“Yeah, I just think his timing was wrong [for his interview],” Ferdinand explained.

“[…] I think that what he was saying, if he believes that and he’s had those conversations behind closed doors, then he’s got an opinion on it. He’s playing. He’s in the club. He’s there.

“He knows what’s going on behind the scenes. I do think he should have gone and had it direct with the people he was talking about and had it out with them.

“But when you’re doing that, I always feel when I played, if I was going to speak out, I didn’t speak out publicly, anything like that, but if I spoke out in a changing room, I best believe I better be playing well.”

Martinez is eligible for selection for Tuesday evening’s Champions League clash against Roma at Old Trafford, despite his sending-off in Man Utd’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The United centre-back’s one-match suspension only applies to domestic competitions rather than European football.