Lisandro Martínez reportedly does not want Manchester United to use the 12-month option on his contract, while the club also has doubts about exercising it, according to reports cited by Khel Now.

The 28-year-old defender is said to be looking for an exit, with Spain his preferred destination if he leaves. Neither his reported preference nor United’s position has been announced as a formal decision.

What the contract option means for United

Khel Now’s October 15 report attributes the claims to The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana and Laurie Whitwell. Sports Illustrated and The Peoples Person, in a report carried by Yahoo, also relay The Athletic’s account of the contract situation.

Martínez’s current deal is nearing its end, but United can extend it by a further year, keeping him at Old Trafford until June 2028. The decision would give the club more time to manage his future; the reporting suggests, however, that neither side is certain to want that extra year.

Contract talks have not moved forward

Khel Now reports that Martínez had sought improved terms after competing at the FIFA World Cup, but negotiations did not substantially progress. The report also links the uncertainty over his future to his recent public criticism of United’s management, while The Athletic’s account, as relayed by the outlets, says people close to the defender maintain his comments were not an attempt to force an exit.

The option now sits alongside other renewal questions at Old Trafford, including Bruno Fernandes’ contract talks. Martínez’s case is distinct: United have a specific extra year they can activate, and the reports say the player does not want that extension.

Leeds selection is the next immediate signal

The contract decision is unresolved, and a preference for Spain does not itself mean a departure is agreed. United’s next immediate test comes at Elland Road against Leeds: Khel Now notes that Michael Carrick must decide whether to select Martínez for the Premier League fixture.

That selection will not settle the contract question, but it will offer supporters the next practical indication of Martínez’s place in Carrick’s plans. The 12-month option, which could keep the defender under contract until June 2028, remains the key decision for the club.