Wantaway Martial flies home
ANTHONY MARTIAL has quit Manchester United’s US tour to return home.
Martial took a flight from Los Angeles to Manchester, just 24 hours before the Reds’ friendly with AC Milan, to be with his partner who is due to give birth to their son.
United would not confirm whether he had boss Jose Mourinho’s blessing to leave the tour, with the disillusioned striker seeking a route out of Old Trafford. It is understood he has told team-mates he will not be returning to the USA.
Mourinho had already privately decided to sell Martial this summer, believing the 22-year-old was not mentally strong enough to play for him.
But the Frenchman’s exit is likely to be hastened by his tour walk-out, which has left Mourinho and the club in the lurch in the US, with three games left to play.
The manager has teenage rookies Mason Greenwood and Joshua Bohui as his only strikers for the rest of the US trip, with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford on extended breaks following the World Cup. United want £70million for Martial,.
Chelsea, Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain all want to sign him, although United are unwilling to let him join a Premier League rival.
United skipper Antonio Valencia has also flown back to Manchester – although he had permission from Mourinho – after suffering a torn calf in the 0-0 friendly draw with San Jose Earthquakes.