A number of Manchester United players feel unwanted at the club. According to NBC Sports journalist Phil Brown, high-earning players believe the hierarchy is deliberately creating conditions for their exit.
An anonymous source has shared details of the tense atmosphere within the squad.
Several players do not feel like welcome guests at the club and believe that the high earners are being edged out to force their departure. Half of the squad does not want to be there because they feel that the club does not want them around.
Several defenders had intended to leave the team last summer when they were informed that new players would be bought for their positions within a year. Now, these players are refusing to take to the pitch with minor injuries, fearing that exacerbating their conditions could jeopardise potential transfers.
This situation has arisen against a backdrop of prolonged conflict. In March 2025, club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly labelled some players as overvalued. Recently, defender Lisandro Martinez criticized the summer transfer campaign led by sporting director Jason Wilcox following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Additionally, Sky Sports reported that Martinez himself sought a move to Atletico last summer. This season, defensive stalwarts Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, and Matthijs de Ligt have already been sidelined due to various injuries.
