Anthony Martial drops biggest hint about his future
Premier League
By
Mirror
| Aug 26, 2018
Anthony Martial is staying at Manchester United — at least for this season.
The French striker, at odds with boss Jose Mourinho after repeated clashes between the pair, has taken a twelve-month let-on a house in Hale, the Cheshire town where many of the Red Devils' stars live.
And that’s the clearest evidence yet that the 22-year-old is staying put in Manchester — for now.
The lease on Martial’s previous rented property in the area ran out in the summer, adding to speculation that the youngster would be on his way.
But despite wanting a move to guarantee first team football after missing out on France’s World Cup-winning squad in Russia, United are refusing to allow the gifted star to leave.
With just days to go before the European window closes, Martial was hanging on in the hope of at least a loan move to a big club in Spain or Italy. But with United unwilling to let him leave, I understand he has agreed a lease on a house that's a 20-minute drive from the club’s Carrington training ground.
It means the France international’s uneasy relationship with Mourinho is set to rumble on.
The Reds manager revealed recently Martial is the only player he’s fined since arriving as Louis van Gaal's successor two years ago.
That was believed to be in the wake of his return to Europe from United’s summer tour of the USA to be with his partner, who was giving birth to their child.
Mourinho and the club were angry he hadn’t told them he would be leaving the tour until the last moment.
And they were further annoyed that, after the birth, he didn’t return to America at a time when Mourinho was short of players due to post-World Cup holidays.
And it’s not the first time Martial has riled the Special One.
The United boss has been outspoken about wanting more out of the former Monaco starlet and has publicly criticised him several times.
Mourinho hoped to swap Martial for Chelsea winger Willian in the summer, but the Blues' new boss Maurizio Sarri wanted to keep the Brazilian.
The 55-year-old Portuguese would cut his losses and move the player on if he could, but United’s hierarchy - who have so far stumped up £43m of a fee that could reach £57m with add-ons after his move from Monaco in 2015 - have so far been unwilling to sanction his exit.