Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has completed a loan move to Sevilla after playing just once under Ralf Rangnick, and has been linked with a permanent transfer away from Old Trafford
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Anthony Martial has completed a temporary switch to Sevilla but the Manchester United misfit admits his long-term future remains up in the air.
The French international, who joined United from Monaco in 2015 in a move worth an initial £36million, had dropped down the pecking order at Old Trafford amid a drawn-out 18-month downfall.
United colleague Marcus Rashford is among those to have sent supportive messages to the 26-year-old following the move to Spain.
Martial is joining a title battle, with Sevilla just four points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
But questions continue to be asked when it comes to where Martial will be playing his club football next year and beyond and he has shed some light on his motivation for the move in his first public statement since the transfer.
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“I have joined for five months but you never know what the future holds,” Martial said after joining Julen Lopetegui’s team.
“It’s not just about money. It’s to play and to enjoy it. That’s it. That’s why I chose to come here, to play and to enjoy football again.
“I want to play more and show what I can do. I believe Sevilla is the perfect place to do that.
“I want to score goals, provide assists and be crucial for this team in the next five months. There are many good players at Sevilla and I want to bring my experience to the side.”
Martial has played 250 times for United since joining the club, but only one of those appearances – in the weekend victory over West Ham United – came with Ralf Rangnick in the dugout.
Rangnick’s interim tenure is due to come to an end at the end of the season, with the German expected to move into a consultancy role as United bring in a new permanent manager.
Sevilla manager Lopetegui is one of the managers on United’s reported four-man shortlist, along with Erik ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique, and if United end up appointing the Spaniard then he will have had plenty of opportunity to see Martial’s quality close up.
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Lopetegui has been at Sevilla since 2019, and was in the dugout when they beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United en route to winning the 2019-20 Europa League.
Martial had scored in the two previous knockout rounds, but drew a blank in the semi-final as Sevilla won 2-1 before going on to beat Inter Milan to lift the trophy.
The striker is under contract at United until 2024, and with Sevilla not holding a purchase option as part of the loan deal he could yet return to play a part in Manchester.
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