Spurs legend makes prediction on Anthony Martial’s future

David Ginola believes Anthony Martial might be tempted into leaving Manchester United after being omitted from France’s World Cup squad.

Martial missed out when Didier Deschamps named his 23-man squad for Russia earlier this week and was, therefore, placed on the stand-by list despite starting France’s last friendly game in March.

READ MORE: BBC pundit disgusted by Mourinho’s treatment of Rashford

It was hardly a surprise to see Martial left out giving the amount of football he’s played since Alexis Sanchez’s January arrival. There has even been reports linking the Frenchman with a summer move to Chelsea, as per source.

“The main reason Anthony Martial is not in the squad is that you need to be a regular in your club before becoming a regular in your national team,” former France international Ginola told Press Association Sport.

“Deschamps has so many options and choices – strikers like Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezemann who have been consistently good for France – that it’s not as if he has to be in there if he’s not playing.

“Players like Martial need to play and score goals for the confidence, they need to be a regular.

“If he is not a regular at Manchester United he will probably search for another club and find one if he wants to.

“But I think Manchester United is a great club for him and it’s up to him to give more in training and in games.

“If Jose Mourinho doesn’t play him more regularly he probably thinks it’s because he doesn’t give his best all the time.

“I don’t see a manager like Mourinho not playing a player who can make him win games. It doesn’t work like that.”

Damning but fair assessment of Martial’s situation under Mourinho.

Martial has all the talent in the world but I don’t see the want or determination on his behalf. To be the best, you need to work harder than the rest regardless of how much natural talent you’ve got in your locker.

The boss isn’t going to take passengers with him when he needs to win games and silverware because there will be serious questions asked come next May if United haven’t put a challenge in for the Premier League title. That is what Mourinho was brought in to do. Not babysit stroppy footballers, who aren’t willing to graft for their teammates.

More Stories Anthony Martial Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur