This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking on Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Gary Neville has questioned whether Anthony Martial has a long-term future at the club.
What did he say?
Having started the campaign on fire with two goals and an assist in his opening three Premier League games, injuries have hampered Martial’s playing time.
But following his goal-scoring display in the derby triumph over Manchester City at the weekend, Neville admitted that the glimpses of truly world-class ability he shows, means the Red Devils are in a tricky situation.
He said (as quoted by The Manchester Evening News): “With Martial, I think Jose Mourinho would have maybe sold him or swapped him last season. I think the club probably dug their heels in, which was probably the start of the dispute between them with them overruling the manager.
“Myself, I’m confused whether he is a world class striker or whether he is someone who is just pretending to be something. Even today, you look at him and think he’s a fantastic player who is cool, with great composure, he’s strong and he can hold the ball.
“Then other weeks you look at him and it’s different. There is definitely a persistence that needs to occur with Martial in the sense that he has to have his chance because the idea of selling him and him coming back to bite you, which he could do, is something that you can’t risk. So I think that is the reason why they have kept him and are always giving him his opportunity.”
Consistency
The France international arrived in an initial £36m deal from AS Monaco back in September 2015, and got his Old Trafford career to a blistering start with his goal against Liverpool. But the 24-year-old has since struggled to find consistency, scoring 54 goals in 187 total games. And as per Transfermarkt, it appears where his best position is has also been up for debate, with the Frenchman playing over 100 games at both centre-forward and out on the left.
Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Man United Quiz? Test your knowledge below…
But as Neville suggests, the fear of United letting him go and then seeing him develop into one of the world’s best means there will always be a reluctance in cutting their ties with the forward. Reports even suggested the club defied Jose Mourinho’s wishes when he was manager to offload the Frenchman – a particularly bold move to take. The Red Devils will simply have to hope once again, that his big-time goal against City can be the kick-start to a full season of goals and impressive performances, rather than just a one-off, so as to vindicate their decison.
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans were raving about this man’s commanding performance against Manchester City.