MARTIAL TO STAY AT UNITED – REPORTS
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial will reportedly stay at the Premier League club beyond this summer after impressing for the three-time European champions in pre-season football this summer. Martial has been one of the best players for Manchester Unitedin pre-season till date and several media reports have claimed that new manager Erik Ten Hag wants him to stay at the club.
The specific report from the Daily Mail claimed thatDutchman Ten Hag is keen to retain the services of Martial who spent the second half of last season at Spanish La Liga club Sevilla as a loanee.
Martial was unable to produce his best form for Sevilla when he joined them at the start of this year. To this effect, the former Europa League winnersdidn't upgrade his loan move to a permanent transfer.
French international Martial returned to Manchester United from his loan spell at Sevilla and he has benefitted from the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo didn't travel with Manchester United on their tour of Australia and Asia thus giving Martial the opportunity to lead the line for the Red Devils. Without Cristiano Ronaldo on the Manchester United tour, Martial has scored three goals in four games as the central striker.
Some media outlets have reported that Martial could even play the central striker role for Manchester United when they take on Brighton and Hove Albion in their Premier League opener in two weeks’ timeeven if Ronaldo returns to training. Five-time Ballon d'or recipient Cristiano Ronaldo is holding out for a move away from Manchester United due to their failure to play Champions League football this season.
Ex-Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon attacker Ronaldo was part of the Manchester United team that failed to qualify for the Champions League at the end of last season after finishing sixth on the league table.