Does Anthony Martial Have A Future At Manchester United?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Anthony Martial of Manchester United in action during the Premier ... [+] League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 7, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Images  On Monday night as France were battling with Switzerland in what would become an epic encounter at Euro 2020 Anthony Martial posted a picture of himself watching the game at home on television. It neatly encapsulated Martials experience over the last twelve months when he has spent more time watching rather than being involved in the main action. The French striker was omitted from Didier Deschamps squad for this summers tournament after picking up a knee injury while on international duty in March. This brought to an end a miserable season for Martial in which he presided over his worst ever goals return for United with just seven. This was in stark contrast to the previous 2019-20 season when he had finished with his best ever total of 23. France's forward Anthony Martial (R) receives assistance after an injury during the FIFA World Cup ... [+] Qatar 2022 qualification Group D football match between Kazakhstan and France, at the Astana Arena, in Nur-Sultan, on March 28, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images  That had been a breakthrough season for Martial, acting as firm proof he could shoulder the responsibility of being Uniteds number nine. It meant he started last season as Uniteds leading striker, but very quickly his form imploded, and he managed just four goals in the Premier League, two as a starter, and two as a substitute in the 9-0 rout of Southampton. The Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani had been signed as an impulse buy on transfer deadline day last October to be a back-up to Martial. At 33, Cavani was not seen as a rival to Martial, but instead the idea was over the course of a long season he could help with his experience. But by the end of the season Cavani had taken his place, and managed to expose Martials own seemingly inherent weaknesses as a striker. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Edinson Cavani (l) of Manchester United celebrates with team mates ... [+] Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial (r) after scoring their sides first goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on December 23, 2020 in Liverpool, England. A limited number of fans (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images  It was thought Martial had made the transition to being an orthodox number nine, but Cavani quickly exposed that as being somewhat premature. The Uruguayan gave a series of striking master classes with his movement and predatory instinct, attributes rarely seen from Martial, to finish the season with 17 goals from 39 games. Rather than rise to the challenge of Cavanis presence, Martial seemed to shirk away and retreat in to himself. This should not have come as a great surprise to the United coaching staff as it had happened twice before, with the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016 and Alexis Sanchez in 2018. The signing of the Chilean from Arsenal disrupted Martial just when he was showing some of his best form for United, having scored nine goals in the Premier League up to his arrival at the end of January, but then none afterwards. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial of Manchester United look ... [+] dejected following the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on November 24, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Getty Images  There has naturally been some degree of frustration at United that Martial has failed to build on his form from the 2019-20 season, and also his repeated failure to respond to any competition for his place. Signed for a fee climbing to 58 million in 2015, Martial has still managed to produce many fine moments over the last six years, but for a player who turns 26 at the end of the year, his career should not have stalled like this. It is why United could be open to selling Martial if they receive an attractive offer during the summer. It is expected Jadon Sancho will soon be arrive from Borussia Dortmund to be stationed on the right side of Uniteds attack. FRANKFURT, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 22: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring the goal to ... [+] the 1:2 during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund at the Commerzbank-Arena on September 22, 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images) Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images  This would move Mason Greenwood in to a more central role to be shared with Cavani, which could make Martial the clubs third choice striker. Having given Cavani a new one-year contract, United are still in the market to sign another striker, which would further demote Martial. They harbour a genuine interest in both Dortmunds Erling Haaland and Tottenhams Harry Kane, but it is unlikely they will approach either of them this summer, with Sancho already accounting for most of their attacking budget. As United look to restructure their attack, it is not inconceivable Martial might have played the last of his 258 games for the club.