Martial ‘can be a Ronaldo’

ANTHONY Martial has the talent to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s level if he puts his mind to it, according to Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 23-year-old has impressed i n fits and starts since moving from Monaco to Old Trafford in 2015, becoming the most expensive teenager i n history in the process.

Martial had looked set to leave in the summer after falling out with Jose Mourinho, only to fight his wa y b a c k into the Portuguese’s plans and last month sign a deal until at least 2024 under Solskjaer.

The France i nternational marked his first start since that contract with an assist and a superb second in the 3-0 w i n a g a i n st Fu l h a m , where his fine solo goal led ex-United captain Gary Neville to compare it to a Ronaldo effort at Craven Cottage in 2007.

“Yes, it was towards the end of the game and we played a very poor game and Cristiano scored it,” Solskjaer said of his former team-mate’s goal.

“He does have similarities, of course.

“If he wants to be at Cristiano’s level, Anthony knows what he has to do. It’s up to him. He has the talent.”

Getting anywhere near those heights would be remarkable for a player that Mourinho was keen to sell in the summer.

Had the former United boss got his way, there is a chance Martial may have been lining up for Paris St Germain rather than United in tomorrow’s Champions League last16 first leg.

Anthony Martial