An end to a nine-year Manchester relationship for Martial
Following a widely expected announcement, injury-ravaged Frenchman Anthony Martial called time on his career at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old attacker spent nine seasons at Manchester United after his heavily-publicised transfer from Monaco in 2015.
His time at the club was frustrating but provided many memorable moments, alongside a barrage of injuries that tarnished numerous supporters’ opinions of the Massy man.
He departs with 317 appearances, 90 goals, and 47 assists to his name – nothing to be sneezed at – with much of the Theatre of Dreams wishing him well and thanking him for the time spent.
Martial becomes the most expensive teenager in the history of football
After a prolonged scouting expedition, United pulled the trigger, confirming the signature of the French sensation for a then-record-breaking figure of £36 Million on a four-year contract on September 1st.
Famously, the deal contained three bonus clauses of £7.2M each – potentially seeing the fee inflate to a staggering £57.6M.
Thankfully, for the ever-cost-concerned Glazers, only one of the clauses was achieved (25 goals scored during the contractual period of four years), with Martial failing to rack up 25 international caps or win the Ballon d’Or in the same period.
As per Sky Sports, the player highlighted his long-standing desire after the move, “I have always wanted to play in the Premier League and to join the biggest club in the world is what every young footballer dreams of.”
Welcome to Manchester United, Anthony Martial
The Frenchman debuted 12 days later against fierce rivals Liverpool as a 65-minute substitute for Juan Mata.
He appeared unfazed amongst a cathedral of noise and expectation – sealing a 3-1 victory 23 minutes later with the now-iconic finish that left Martin Tyler screaming those famous lines.
“Oh yes! Welcome to Manchester United, Anthony Martial.”
In truth, amidst a catalogue of media cynicism and rival jeering, it was – pretty much – the ideal scenario for United’s new sensation.
Injuries upon injuries
Despite his iconic debut moment and several other memorable outings – such as his match-winning goal against Everton in the 2015/16 FA Cup semi-final, injuries plagued any form of perennial success.
From a hamstring injury collected on February 22, 2016, to groin surgery on January 24, 2024, Martial missed 521 days while contracted to United and was unavailable for 94 matches.
As we regularly say on the Theatre of Red podcast – availability is the number one trait of any footballer, and while Martial’s talents were often mesmeric, his time on a physio table will ultimately overshadow his accomplishments for many.
What next for the former Golden Boy winner
While many have moved to dismiss his time, it is important to remember the forward has dedicated his career to the club – with his 23-goal 2019/20 campaign earning him the Reds Players’ Player of the Year award.
His loan move to Sevilla during the second half of the 2021/22 season was uninspiring – contributing a solitary strike from 12 appearances.
Following his departure from the Premier League, the Theatre of Red has been advised that Inter Milan remains a possible destination for the Frenchman.
The 20-time champions of England acknowledged his time on their official website stating, “Everybody at United thanks Anthony for his service and wishes him well for the future.”
The player penned a heartfelt goodbye to the Old Trafford faithful, acknowledging his immense pride in wearing the shirt and fond memories of his time at the club.
Whatever his career holds, we wish him the best and thank him for his efforts.
Tony Martial – he came from France. English press said he had no chance, 50 million down the drain, Tony Martial scores again.
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