Anthony Martial’s spell at Man Utd has been more lows than highs as he heads to Sevilla to spend the rest of this season, with his longer-term future also looking away from Old Trafford
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Rangnick comments on Martial’s future as Deadline Day nears
Manchester United fans came up with an inspired chant in honour of Anthony Martial.
‘Tony Martial came from France, the English Press said he had no chance, £50million down the drain, Tony Martial scores again!’
United fans would belt out the refrain whenever Martial played – with even more gusto when he scored – and, for a while, the sentiment behind the chant seemed justified.
But with Martial having joined Sevilla on loan for the rest of the season, the chant will be consigned to the past, just like the forward’s underwhelming United career.
For Martial has become another much-hyped young United signing who failed to make the grade at Old Trafford in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
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Martial joins the likes of Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Daniel James – young talents signed amid huge expectation, only to wither under the spotlight at the Theatre of Dreams.
France striker Martial plundered a career-best 23 goals in the 2019-20 season, earning him the United Players’ Player of the Year award, as he finally looked to be ready to fulfil his potential.
But he reverted to type last term, managing just seven goals, and this season has made just 11 appearances with a solitary goal, his lack of involvement prompting him to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
If a talent unfulfilled is the greatest waste of all, then Martial is the epitome of that maxim, a player blessed with outrageous talent but without the application to accompany it.
When he marked his debut from the bench with a majestic solo goal in a 3-1 win over arch rivals Liverpool in 2015, it seemed United had signed a player of prodigious talent.
Only 19, Martial was signed from Monaco for an initial fee of £36million, with add-ons of £7.3m for reaching 25 goals, £7.3m for 25 caps for France and £7.3m for winning the Ballon d’Or.
With the first two of those add-ons comfortably met, Martial, who managed 79 goals in 269 appearances, has cost United £50.6m, hardly value for money over six-and-a-half years.
Martial, 26, who arrived at United aged 19, had the potential to be as prolific as compatriot Thierry Henry, his stunning debut goal – in which he slalomed past Liverpool’s defence before executing an insouciant finish – reminiscent of Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer.
There were other notable goals too, in particular his stunning late winner at Wembley in United’s 2-1 FA Cup semi-final triumph over Everton in 2016, en route to winning the trophy.
There were equally impressive strikes, against Fulham in 2019, when he picked the ball up in his own half and skipped past a cluster of opponents, before dispatching a trademark finish into the far corner.
And carbon copy goals against Bournemouth and Southampton, where he cut in from the left before unleashing unstoppable shots with his right foot, underlined Martial’s abundant talent.
But more often than not, Martial flattered to deceive, showcasing his prowess all too infrequently, his lacklustre effort and body language a source of frustration to United bosses Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskajer and Ralf Rangnick, one which has seen him exit Old Trafford.
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