Anthony Martial's agent addresses Man Utd exile claims amid surgery admission

Anthony Martial's agent has denied reports that the striker has been exiled from the first-team picture by Erik ten Hag amid ongoing fitness issues.

Martial has been absent from matchdays since the 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on December 9, with Ten Hag citing illness as the reason for his unavailability. The French international then watched Sunday's 2-2 draw against Tottenham from the stands at Old Trafford and his manager insisted he was 'not fit'.

Earlier this week, the Daily Mail reported that Martial had been made to train on his own in a bid to improve his fitness. Sources inside the club have told ManchesterWorld that these claims are false and now the striker's agent, Phillipe Lamboley, has given an update on his client.

"What is said about him is completely false," Lamboley told Sky Sports. "He was not excluded from the group and he has no problem with [Erik ten Hag]. Anthony has been in Manchester for nine seasons and if he was not a great professional then he would not have been at the club for so long. He is simply going to undergo a small operation on his adductors, which he should have done for a while and which did not allow him to be 100 per cent, so he will do it now."

In their denial of the claims, United pointed to similar situations in which Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro underwent individual fitness programmes as they recovered from long-term injuries. But the uncertainty surrounding Martial's future fuelled speculation of a fallout and potential exit this month.

United opted against activating a 12-month extension on the 28-year-old's contract at a point when they did for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal Mejbri - who has since joined Sevilla on loan. Ten Hag insisted the club were in talks with Martial and Raphael Varane but there is an openness that the former could leave this month and could have done so in the summer, had an appropriate offer been received.

But multiple reports have suggested that Martial has turned away interest from Turkey and France amid a desire to play out the remainder of the season at United. And Lamboley has confirmed his client's stance. "Anthony will not leave and will stay until his contract ends in June," he added.