Why Manchester United Could Regret Allowing Anthony Martial To Leave

Why Manchester United Could Regret Allowing Anthony Martial To Leave
13:34, 14 Jun 2018

On Wednesday night, the agent of Manchester United forward Anthony Martial revealed that his client wants to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been strongly linked with a move for the 22-year-old, and his representative’s comments to RMC Sport appeared to hand the London club a huge boost in their reported pursuit of the Frenchman.

"After considering all possibilities and options, Anthony wants to leave Manchester United. There are many reasons, for now it is too early to discuss it. Anthony will talk soon to go through that,” Philippe Lamboley stated.

Martial’s agent went on to claim that his client would have asked for a move sooner if it had not been for the love of the supporters, which has been unconditional since he arrived in the summer of 2015.

It would be fair to say that Martial’s move to England in the final stages of the summer transfer window caught many by surprise. United paid Monaco an initial £36m for his services in a deal which could eventually rise to £58m.

Martial just about had the perfect debut as he scored in a 3-1 win over Liverpool on September 12, and he went on to net 17 times during a brilliant first season at Old Trafford. At that point, there were comparisons with Thierry Henry, and United looked to have one of Europe’s outstanding youngsters in their squad.

Martial only managed four Premier League goals during the 2016-17 campaign, however, and despite ending last season with 11 goals and nine assists in all competitions, it proved to be another frustrating year for the attacker, who really needs to be in a team playing open and expansive football.

The 18-time France international started less than half of United’s 38 Premier League matches last term, with the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in the January transfer window really harming his minutes on the field. Martial played the full 90 minutes against Brighton & Hove Albion on May 4, but then did not feature against either West Ham United or Watford in the club’s last two matches.

“Maybe now you will not ask me why A, B and C do not play so much. People always ask: ‘Why always [Romelu] Lukaku?’ Well, now they know why always Lukaku, and why always this player and why always that player,” Mourinho said in the aftermath of the Brighton defeat - seemingly referencing Martial and Marcus Rashford, who struggled against Chris Hughton’s side.

Sanchez’s United debut arrived away to Tottenham on January 31, and the Chilean’s introduction on the left saw Martial switch to the right. In the three Premier League matches preceding Sanchez’s arrival, Martial scored three times and provided one assist during an excellent run of form.

Martial did not score a single Premier League goal after Sanchez moved to Old Trafford, however, with his position in the team handed to the Chilean without a second thought. Mourinho will feel that he simply could not have turned down the chance to sign a player of Sanchez’s ilk at that stage, but there is no question that Martial suffered as a direct result.

The fact that Martial is fast closing on 150 appearances for United means that it is easy to forget he is still such a young man. He will not turn 23 until the latter stages of this year, and as a result, is still very much learning the game. Being left out of the France squad for the 2018 World Cup would have hurt him, and will surely be in his mind as the speculation gathers pace.

United’s stance appears to be that Martial will not be leaving the club this summer under any circumstances. The attacker’s current deal will expire at the end of next season, but the Red Devils do have the option of an additional year. That said, it is United’s unwillingness to accelerate contract talks that has played a role in Martial wanting to leave the club, according to his agent.

"Man United want to extend Anthony's deal and they do now want him to leave, but we have not come to an agreement for several months. I think that when Man United, who are the most powerful club, cannot come to an agreement after eight months it is because they really don't want to make him a key player,” Lamboley added.

Mourinho’s strict style of management has helped him land trophy after trophy, but the Portuguese has got it badly wrong with Martial. A quiet and unassuming man, the former Lyon youngster is the type of player and indeed individual who needs an arm around him. Some footballers are motivated by strong words and criticism, but others need to feel support. Martial certainly has the affection of the United fans, but does not feel the same from Mourinho.

Lukaku will again be the club’s centre-forward next season, and Sanchez will be the first pick on the left. Rashford has also been linked with a move away from the 20-time English champions, but it is difficult to imagine the England international leaving, which adds more uncertainty to Martial’s future.

There is an argument to be made that Martial lacks the character to be a top player, but he is not the type of individual who can dip in and out of matches. The simple fact of the matter is that there is not a player in the United squad more dangerous when running at defenders.

Aziz Benaaddane, - one of Martial’s former teammates at Les Ulis – said back in 2015: "It's a simplicity of play that he has always had. Since he was small, as soon as he gets the ball he runs straight for goal. Same as now.”

Martial, like every player in world football, has his weaknesses, and they seemingly outweigh his strengths in the eyes of Mourinho. With the Frenchman wanting to leave this summer and United determined not to sell, it will be fascinating to see how this one ends.

Martial still has the potential to be one of the outstanding players in world football, but that will not happen with Mourinho as his manager. Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah are famous examples of where the Portuguese has got it wrong, and history could well be repeating itself once again.

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