United MARTIAL S CONTRACT THRILLER
MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to trigger Anthony Martial’s contract extension clause – keeping him with them until 2020.
Martial looked to be heading out of United this summer after his agent revealed the striker’s sense of disillusionment under Jose Mourinho.
Signed from Monaco for £36million in 2015, Martial missed out on a place in France’s World Cup-winning squad because of a lack of game-time under Mourinho last season.
Attack
That led to a growing belief he would be on his way, with Juventus and Tottenham having expressed interest in signing the 22-year-old.
But United are understood to have no intention of offloading Martial, with executive vicechairman Ed Woodward ready to trigger the extension clause.
Martial is set to lead United’s attack at the start of the new season, with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford on extended breaks following the World Cup.
And United team-mate Ander Herrera believes Martial – who impressed in United’s 1-1 draw with Club America in the opening game of their US tour in Phoenix – has the ability to become one of the world’s elite players.
“He’s very talented,” said Herrera. “He can be one of the best players in the world and I think he’s very, very focused this season to smash it.
“When you have players like Anthony, like Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Alexis Sanchez – those kind of players can change the game.
“If one of them can’t play, we have three or four more, so we have lots of options.
“I think we shouldn’t think that any other club in the Premier League has better players, because at least we have as good as the opponents.
“Now it’s all about work for Anthony, confidence, about keeping on playing like he did against Club America. I’m confident with them because they’re all amazing players and Anthony looks very sharp.”
Herrera’s United pal and Spanish compatriot Mata endorsed his high praise of the club’s youngsters.
Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, Joel Pereira, Axel Tuanzebe, Tim Fosu-mensah, Scott Mctominay, Demi Mitchell, Andreas Pereira and 16-year-old Mason Greenwood were all involved in Phoenix.
Future
They are also likely to feature in tonight’s second game of the US tour, against MLS side San Jose Earthquakes at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Mata said: “It’s very good news for the club and especially the Academy that we have so many kids with us.
“I think they’re having a great experience by training with us and the manager, seeing what United represents around the world.
“And I think the future is bright for Manchester United with these Academy players.”
So it’s no wonder United fans and manager Jose Mourinho have been wondering again why he isn’t doing it for his club on a regular basis.
But here’s the thing: I’m not convinced he CAN do it on a regular basis – because he just doesn’t have the discipline for that.
Yes, he has the discipline when he’s playing in two huge World Cup matches with a major prize at the end of them. But week in, week out, when all that’s on offer is three points against a Cardiff or Bournemouth, I’m not so sure.
When Pogba rejoined United, I wrote that he’s a rapper in every way apart from the fact he doesn’t actually rap. He has the bling, he does the dabbing and that gets in the way of the football.
People say, ‘But, Stan, it’s his right to be who he is, he’s effervescent’ – and great.
But if you can do what he did in the semi-final and final of a World Cup, then there can be no excuse for not doing it in run-of-the-mill Premier League games, Champions League games and Europa League games – and often that just isn’t the case.
Inconsistent
He’s far too inconsistent and that inconsistency is all part of what I call the ‘juvenilisation’ of players.
They are treated like Under-11s and, as such, Pogba, Neymar and Co are Under-11 footballers.
They’re indulged by clubs who don’t tell them off anymore, they don’t have standards, in terms of dress, hair, earrings and bling.
There was a reason why Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson liked players with smart haircuts who settled down and got married early – because it showed maturity.