A public spat has erupted between Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and club legends Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, with the former players telling Martinez to 'grow up' and better handle criticism. The controversy originated from remarks made by Butt and Scholes on their podcast, 'The Good, The Bad & The Football,' ahead of the Manchester derby. They openly mocked Martinez's height and his perceived disadvantage against Manchester City's formidable striker Erling Haaland, with Butt suggesting Haaland would 'pick Martinez up and run with him like a little toddler.' Martinez, however, delivered a commanding performance in the derby, which Manchester United won 2-0, successfully keeping Haaland quiet. Following the victory, Martinez publicly challenged his critics, stating that Scholes 'can say whatever he wants' and extended an invitation for them to confront him 'to my house, wherever, I don't care,' adding that former players often speak on television but 'no one says anything in your face.' This response further inflamed the situation, leading to Butt's direct retort on the podcast, telling Martinez to 'grow the f*** up.' Butt argued that if a player gets 'so emotional' about media criticism and reacts in such a manner, they 'shouldn't be at a big football club' like Manchester United, where constant scrutiny is part of the career. Scholes corroborated this sentiment, revealing that Martinez had previously told him he lost 'all respect' for him over past comments. The former midfielders maintained their comments were 'tongue-in-cheek' and part of a casual podcast discussion, not formal commentary. The ongoing public exchange highlights the tension between former players turned pundits and current stars regarding criticism.