Manchester United’s fanbase has been divided when it comes to the subject of want-away forward Anthony Martial. After the Frenchman’s agent revealed that his client wanted to leave the Premier League side last week, talk of an exit this summer has ramped up, with Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all said to be interested.
The news has sparked debate far and wide, and former United striker and Martial’s fellow countryman Louis Saha has not come out in support of the former AS Monaco player, as per these quotes provided by Metro:
“I think it’s a shame to see him wanting to leave already. I recognise for example when David Bellion was signed during my time at the club he was frustrated he wasn’t playing all the time but he was playing with big players (Ryan) Giggsy and (Cristiano) Ronaldo, but he wanted to play right now but he was so young.
“It was already in that generation where players were impatient. Why? Because of social media and the agents, they don’t understand they have to prove themselves. If something is hard they have to maintain their levels and say ‘hang on a minute maybe I haven’t done enough’.”
“It shouldn’t be like ‘maybe it’s (Jose) Mourinho’s fault’, yes there are always excuses but when you’re good you play. That’s it. If I’m not playing it’s because I’m not scoring enough goals or creating enough, so that’s why he’s got to show people that he’s more than good enough.”
Saha’s comments will certainly be welcomed by those fans who believe that Martial’s current predicament is down to the Frenchman’s lack of application and his struggle to perform consistently. Mourinho has been roundly criticised for his handling of Martial since Alexis Sanchez was signed from Arsenal in January, and the Chilean’s struggles on the left flank have certainly not helped his manager. But if Martial gets his wish, leaves Old Trafford and succeeds elsewhere, then the club and a good proportion of its fans would find that deeply difficult to take.
