Paul Scholes has completely changed his tune about Lisandro Martinez, with whom he's currently embroiled in a bizarre feud.

The pair have been trading blows in public this week, with Scholes claiming Martinez isn't a Premier League-winning calibre defender. Martinez then bit back, insisting the Manchester United legend "wouldn't survive" in Argentina.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: "Even when he [Martinez] is fit, he's not good enough to win the Premier League with." Riled up, Martinez responded on Instagram by saying: "This jinx guy is really hurting... You put him in Argentina, and he wouldn't survive."

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Scholes' jab is a far cry from the praise he initially lavished on Martinez after he joined United from Ajax in 2022. For instance, just a few weeks into Martinez's Old Trafford tenure, Scholes insisted he was the only United player worthy of a guaranteed spot in the starting XI.

He also said the 27-year-old would be "a huge miss" when he was carried off injured during United's Europa League clash with Sevilla in April 2023. That said, the former England international wasn't afraid to criticise him when necessary.

The previous October, after the Red Devils' win over Sheriff, Scholes, 50, said Martinez needed to improve his one-on-one defending. "I still don't think he's the best one vs one. I think having Raphael Varane next to him has really helped to settle him," he said.

A few months later, he slammed Martinez over a "criminal" mistake he made during United's infamous 7-0 mauling at the hands of Liverpool, insisting the defender needed telling off for it. The opening goal was scored by Cody Gakpo, but United keeper David de Gea might have saved the Dutchman's effort had Martinez not dropped into the six yard box and blocked the Spaniard's line of sight.

"I certainly don't think it helped De Gea," said Scholes. "I don't think he's quite in line at the point it's kicked but David can also think the ball might hit him. But when he [Gakpo] does hit it, he has gone right past him. You see David's reaction there towards Martinez, he doesn't quite have a go at him, but I think he should do.

"I think it happened a couple of times, once before with Robertson where he ended up clearing it off the line, he [Martinez] is going far too deep, he should be getting up the pitch, can he stop the shot or have an effect on the shot rather than get in the keeper's way.

"He needs to trust his goalkeeper. This is a top goalkeeper we're talking about, do not get in his way. If anybody gets in the goalkeeper's way it's criminal."

Last month, Scholes went a step further by encouraging United to get rid of Martinez while playing a quickfire game of 'Keep or Sell' for TNT Sports. "He's done okay of late, but I think I'd sell," said the ex-midfielder, who also said he'd oust Marcus Rashford, Matthijs de Ligt, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Casemiro, Antony and Joshua Zirkzee.

Martinez was ruled out for the season after picking up a serious knee injury during United's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace earlier this month, and isn't expected back until the end of the calendar year. Fitness troubles have blighted the Argentina international's United career, forcing him to miss nearly 60 games (and counting) for club and country, according to Transfermarkt.