Butt Demands Martinez 'Grow Up' After Defender Bites Back at Podcast Jabs

The simmering tension between Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez and punditry's looser cannons has boiled over, with Nicky Butt doubling down on his criticism of the Argentine defender despite acknowledging a stellar display against Manchester City.

Butt and Paul Scholes had taken aim at Martinez ahead of United's 2-0 victory over City, with Butt suggesting Erling Haaland would "pick Martinez up and run with him" in the manner of "a dad at school running down the road with a little toddler". Scholes piled on, claiming the Norwegian would "score, then throw him in the net".

Martinez wasn't having it. The United centre-back fired back, suggesting former players are quick with barbs on podcasts and television but lack the spine to deliver such comments face-to-face. "If he wants to say something to me, he can come wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don't care," Martinez declared.

Scholes accepted the invitation with a cheeky Instagram post: "Someone's had a good game. Was really happy for you… Tea, no sugar pls."

Yet Butt couldn't resist another word. On The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, he praised Martinez's performance against Europe's finest but then unleashed: "f***ing grow up".

"He was brilliant on the day, fair play to him," Butt said. "He's gone out and he's gone man to man against the best centre-forward in Europe and the world possibly, him and Harry Kane to be fair, and he was brilliant."

However, Butt insisted the criticism should be taken with a grain of salt. "We are a podcast, we are three lads in a pub, we are not on Sky doing commentary. It's quite obvious that Haaland is not going to pick him up and run with him. It's obvious that."

The United legend then turned philosophical, suggesting that oversensitivity to media scrutiny is unbecoming of a player at a club of United's stature. "When someone gets so upset about someone in the media or a podcast to start saying they can do what they want and come to my house and all that, f***ing grow up. If you are going to get so emotional about someone saying that about you, you shouldn't be at a big club. He will get that at the rest of his career at United, there will be ups and downs."

Butt concluded: "There is no personal issue with us and Martinez. I think it's really sad that someone gets so upset."

Rio Ferdinand, however, has taken a different stance on the spat. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former United captain suggested both parties have overstepped the mark.

"It's not beef, I think it's being made out to be beef," Ferdinand said. "This week I think there has been some stuff that has probably been just over borderline, personal."

Ferdinand painted a picture of a player desperate to succeed and committed to United's resurgence. "I have spoken to Martinez a few times, online and in person, and he is someone who just wants to do well, win, get back to the standards Man United were at. He is eager to see that that looks like. He has even invited me to go to the training ground, go and get a coffee – he is a sponge. The way he plays is the way I feel he is – he is an honest character and a good sort to have in the changing room."

Ferdinand reframed Martinez's comments as a call for direct dialogue rather than public posturing. "He is within his rights, if something gets on his nerves… he has come out and said it. The way it has been taken I think needs some context. He is not saying, 'Come and meet me anywhere and we will have a tear up' – he is saying, 'Let's have a conversation face to face if you have an issue'."

The former defender offered a principle to guide such exchanges: "When you are talking about people, if you feel you can say the same thing in front of them, then it is fair game."

Ferdinand also highlighted Martinez's credentials, reminding observers of the defender's World Cup-winning pedigree and his understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level. Having spoken to the Argentine after the City victory, Ferdinand noted his focus remains laser-sharp on performance and standards.