Anthony Martial has endured a challenging two years and the Frenchman is believed to be transfer listed by Manchester United this summer.
Martial was a mainstay in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side for much of the Norwegian’s reign but a miserable 2020/21 campaign meant he started the next season on the bench, with Ralf Rangnick picking a public feud with him later.
Rangnick eventually granted his request to leave but his six-month stint at Sevilla couldn’t have gone much worse. The 26-year-old failed to score in any of his nine La Liga appearances and is expected to return to United this summer to take part in pre-season.
Sevilla director José María Cruz de Andrés, who acts as the club’s general manager and secretary of the board of directors, has now commented on his disappointing short-term arrangement.
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“Some players are able to adapt themselves immediately into the new team. We have experiences with the players we brought in the winter market. For instance, Ivan Rakitić, Gary Medel and Stevan Jovetić, we had him on loan, had quick adaptation,” he told Sport Witness.
“Some players need more time. I remember Dani Alves, who is an excellent player. He needed one-and-a-half-seasons in order to be competitive.
“I believe that problem with Anthony Martial was when he was starting to adapt to the coach, to his system, he suffered some injuries. He was unable to have the continuity that he needed.
“I believe he was very happy and he thought it was a good opportunity for him [to join Sevilla on loan]. The injuries have been a problem for Martial. I believe he has enjoyed playing with us. I can imagine Anthony Martial has found that Sevilla would be a good club for him to have a new opportunity.”
SN’s verdict…
It remains to be seen whether Martial is in Erik ten Hag’s plans this summer but the Frenchman could be sacrificed to free up funds for other transfers, with moves for Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen on the agenda.
United’s lack of options in his position could offer him a lifeline, however. Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata will all leave the club at the end of this month and there is little clarity on Mason Greenwood’s situation.
Martial’s poor loan spell has been disappointing for all parties involved. The fearless striker who burst onto the scene in 2015 is long gone but he’ll hope to rediscover that form. At the time of writing, it looks like that’s away from Old Trafford.
Anthony Martial is a wasted talent. I’ve seen many athletes like him. He has undoubted talent, but he is not interested in his football, only the money he makes from it. He can care less if he ever plays so long as he collects his millions in weekly installments. Hell will freeze over if he ever plays even slightly hurt!! He MUST go if Ten Hag is to succeed with his rebuild!! Otherwise there will be a Lazy@ cancer with a crappy attitude and crappier professional aptitude in the midst of his (Erik’s) dressing room!!
I fully agree with your observations. His heart is not there but for their weekly wages. It is written all over his face, his body language says it all. The same goes for Rashford. In my view both should be sold or loaned the championship ( below EPL)