Anthony Martial: From Golden Boy to doubts and criticism – en Route to Redemption or Relinquishment?

2023-12-16 22:46:00

There was a time when some saw him finishing with the Ballon d’Or. Monaco had even included a clause during his transfer to Manchester United to activate a bonus if Anthony Martial one day won the most prestigious individual trophy. But that was in 2015. Another time. Today, the former Lyonnais seems to have missed his chance and put aside his ambitions for greatness. And yet, he is only 28 years old. But years of frustration behind him.

The Ballon d’Or, Martial dreamed of it. “As long as there are these two extraterrestrials (Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, editor’s note) it will be difficult for another player to think regarding it. When I have passed a milestone, I will perhaps think regarding it”, he admitted in August 2016 in L’Equipe a few months following receiving the 2015 Golden Boy prize which rewards the best player under 21 in Europe. But he never passed this famous milestone. To the point that Manchester United today does not intend to keep him, even if it means letting him go free next June at the end of his contract according to the English media.

Anthony Martial

Credit: Getty Images

Ups and lots of downs

If this is confirmed, his time in Manchester will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of more than one Mancunian fan. There were of course highs, like his first goal a few minutes following entering the game for his first Premier League match once morest Liverpool (-1). His first season in the North of England also showed some promise (11 goals in the PL, 18 including tax). But then, he never found any regularity worthy of the name.

Wandered between the wing and sometimes the axis to play as a nine, Anthony Martial did not become the player the Red Devils dreamed of. They believed it a little when Ole Gunnar Solskjær chose to trust him up front in 2019-2020. The Frenchman then impressed by signing his best season with 17 goals in 32 Premier League matches. But between injuries, extra-sporting stories or a not always impeccable attitude on the field, he quickly fell back into his inconsistency.

Anthony Martial and Andre Onana

Credit: Getty Images

The consultants are letting loose on his case

Sent on loan to Seville in 2022 to try to breathe new life into it, the native of Massy also failed to seize the opportunity, failing to find the path to goal in nine La Liga outings before being booed by part of the Andalusian public in April and finished the season on the bench. Since then, he has continued to frustrate in the North of England between his absences due to injuries and his sometimes annoying performances. In 19 matches in all competitions this season, he has only scored twice…to the point of exasperation.

If Erik ten Hag tried to give him a little chance recently following a remarkable performance once morest Everton (a goal and an assist), Martial is once once more in the eye of the storm. In addition to its low efficiency, its lack of investment in the fields remains in the sights of critics. Last weekend, Gary Neville judged it “bizarre” on Sky Sport the fact that Ten Hag continued to line him up in front. And the former Mancunian defender is quite nice compared to other English consultants.

We forgive Martial for scoring a goal every 14 years

In recent weeks, many of the “pundits” have happily let loose with the international tricolor. Roy Keane did not spare him in particular: “We forgive Martial for scoring a goal every 14 years,” the former United midfielder said on Sky. “But if we are trailing 1-0 by Newcastle and you have the ball in the box, you’d better get hold of it and give us some air. But he just touches it and gives it back stupidly. I was like, ‘You’d better go down to the lower division’. (…) If you can’t get up to speed, maybe you’re not the right player for this club.”

And if the former Red Devils defender Paul Parker also gave him a suit on SpilXperten (“The replacement goalkeeper would do a better job than Martial as an attacker”), Jamie Carragher also launched a virulent dig at Martial as he criticized Marcus Rashford. “Marcus Rashford now looks like Antony Martial. A foreign player who has not proven himself and who doesn’t care,” explained the former Liverpool defender in comments taken up by The Mirror. In the eye of the storm, Martial seems to have served his time in Manchester. But at 28 years old, he maintains a certain value on the market despite his current setbacks. And some are even ready to jump at the opportunity this winter or next summer to try to relaunch it once more and once more. Even if this time, no one will surely put a Ballon d’Or clause in their future contract.

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