Among other football transfer news today, Anthony Martial wants to leave Manchester United, as he has already told the club.
When Manchester United signed him from Monaco in September 2015, Anthony Martial became the world’s most expensive teenage footballer. The £36m fee, potentially rising to £58m, also made him United’s third most expensive signing at the time. His fee came third after those of Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata.
And, justifying such a splurge on him, Martial made a memorable debut for Manchester United. He came off the bench to score a superb solo goal against Liverpool, back then.
And since, Martial has gone on to score 79 goals in 268 appearances for United. But he has fallen down the pecking order for forwards at Old Trafford.
He is sidelined following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho and the emergence of Mason Greenwood.
The France international has thus become a fringe figure at Old Trafford, making just two Premier League starts this season. Even on a European scale, he has played in only four match across all competitions.
“We spoke at length on Wednesday,” said interim United manager Ralf Rangnick, disclosing the 26-year-old’s desire to quit Old Trafford.
“He explained to me he’s been at Manchester United now for the last seven years and he feels it’s the right time for a change, to go somewhere else.”
“I think in a way this is understandable, I could follow his thoughts but on the other hand, it’s also important to see the situation of the club,” the interim manager continued.
“We have Covid times, we have three competitions in which we still have high ambitions and want to be as successful as we can be.”
Anthony Martial Wants to Leave Manchester United
Earlier this month, Anthony Martial’s agent said that the Frenchman wanted to depart from Old Trafford in January’s transfer window.
Martial’s representative Philippe Lamboley, executive director of USFA Management, said: “Anthony wishes to leave the club in January. He just needs to play. He doesn’t want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon.”
At the same time, however, Manchester United interim coach Ralf Rangnick has confirmed there’s no concrete interest in Anthony Martial.
So, with few suitors ahead of the winter transfer window in January, Martial could stay on at Manchester United.
He said: “I told him listen, as long as there is no club showing interest in him, and it should not only be in the interest of the player it should also be in the interest of the club.
“So far, as far as I know, there has been no offer from any other club and as long as this is the case he will stay.”
