Martial’s agent confirms striker wants to leave Manchester United in January

The Frenchman’s representative has said he wants to depart the club when the transfer window opens next month.
According to his agent, Anthony Martial wants to leave Manchester United in January. Credit: Getty.According to his agent, Anthony Martial wants to leave Manchester United in January. Credit: Getty.
According to his agent, Anthony Martial wants to leave Manchester United in January. Credit: Getty.

Anthony Martial’s agent has told Sky Sports that his client wants to leave Manchester United in January.

Philippe Lamboley, executive director of USFA Management, explained to the broadcaster on Friday that Martial wishes to look for a new club due to his lack of playing time.

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“Anthony wishes to leave the club in January,” said Lamboley. “He just needs to play. He doesn’t want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon.”

Martial started in the recent win over Villarreal. Credit: Getty.Martial started in the recent win over Villarreal. Credit: Getty.
Martial started in the recent win over Villarreal. Credit: Getty.

Martial has been at United since moving from Monaco in 2015 and has played 268 games for the club, scoring 79 times and registering 50 assists.

The striker has endured a tough 2021/22 campaign and has started just four games in all competitions, playing 90 minutes once, in the League Cup encounter against West Ham United in September.

His season has been affected by injury, and with competition from the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, while Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo have been viewed as more reliable options up front.

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It was in a central role that Martial enjoyed his best scoring season as a United player, during the 2019/20 campaign. The No.9 was deployed mainly as a striker under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that term, rather than in a wide position, where he has also frequently played during his time at Old Trafford.

Rangnick is yet to comment on Lamboley’s interview. Credit: Getty.Rangnick is yet to comment on Lamboley’s interview. Credit: Getty.
Rangnick is yet to comment on Lamboley’s interview. Credit: Getty.

Martial netted 23 in all competitions that campaign, but that figure dropped to just seven last season, as a mixture of poor form, injury and competition for places limited his playing time.

It’s a problem that still exists for the 26-year-old, and injury has prevented him playing in both games so far under new interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

“Anthony trained with us on Saturday in the final training session before the Crystal Palace game and half an hour after training the medical department informed me he had some pain on his knee,” Rangnick said on Tuesday.

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"We had a meeting with the medical department and we agreed he should try to recover from that. It’s not a fresh injury, it’s symptoms he had in the past already.”

Rangnick was also conducting a press conference as the news of Lamboley’s interview broke, so the German is yet to be asked about Martial’s situation.

However, he did speak about January transfers on Friday and said there was a possibility of players leaving in January, which suggests a move away from Old Trafford could be possible for Martial.

“I saw most of them play in the two games and have had a minimum of three of four training sessions this week, but it is still too early to speak about what might happen in the winter transfer window,” Rangnick said in his pre-Norwich City press conference.

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“If I look at the number of player it is still a big squad. We definitely do not have not enough players. But we also need to make sure players want to stay here.

“If they are not getting enough game time here it might make sense to speak individually to the players and see if a loan deal might work. But right now it is still too early to speak about that.”

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