Anthony Martial deserves a fresh start away from Old Trafford

Anthony Martial wasted no time in announcing himself as Manchester United’s next superstar-in-the-making. His debut goal against Liverpool electrified Old Trafford as the French winger, who cost £36m from Monaco in 2015, made the best first impression of any new United signing since Wayne Rooney.

At that point, Martial looked to be a talent around which United would construct their attack. The French youngster reached double figures for goals in his first season at the club but soon lost his way. Now, six-and-a-half years on from his arrival at Old Trafford and from that famous debut goal against Liverpool, Anthony Martial is a peripheral figure and desperate to leave.

“He explained to me that 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,” interim United boss Ralf Rangnick explained with the January transfer window on the horizon. Sevilla are believed to be interested in Anthony Martial and have reportedly already made a loan offer for the winger.

“I think in a way it is understandable,” the German coach reasoned when asked to see the situation from Martial’s perspective. “I could follow his thoughts but on the other hand, it’s also important to see the situation of the club. We have Covid times, we have three competitions in which we have high ambitions and want to be as successful as we can be.”

Rangnick’s comments may hold some logic but Anthony Martial has started only two Premier League fixtures this season. Manchester United are already out of the Carabao Cup and might not be able to count on many more matches in the Champions League after being drawn against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16. Where is Martial’s game time coming from this season?

That Martial has become such a forgotten figure at Manchester United says a lot about how the club has operated in recent years. The French winger should have been one of the best players in his position and a United icon by now. Instead, he has been mismanaged to the point of first team exile. Martial has been badly failed by his own club.

Of all the players United signed in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson age, Anthony Martial had the most potential. Angel di Maria was an exciting signing but the Argentinean had already peaked in his career. Memphis Depay arrived amid much hype but was never able to justify it. The same could be said of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Paul Pogba would also rank high on the list of post-Ferguson signings failed by Manchester United but the Old Trafford outfit might argue that the midfielder has played a significant role in his own downfall. Indeed, Pogba has been afforded countless opportunities to become the player United signed him to be.

Martial, however, has been in and out of the team without any real rhyme or reason. Louis van Gaal played him in his most effective position in attack only for Jose Mourinho to move him out to the left wing, and then on to the bench. Martial had his best season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, scoring 17 Premier League goals in 2019/20 as a centre forward, but soon fell down the pecking order again with the arrival of Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is, as Rangnick says, understandable that Anthony Martial desires a fresh start at another club, but the Frenchman’s departure, when it ultimately happens, should be the source of much regret for Manchester United. Martial’s career was never meant to pan out this way and United deserve the majority of the blame for the fact that it has.

 

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