This didn’t seem so likely in the final days of Jose Mourinho
Anthony Martial has extended his Manchester United contract until 2024, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The Frenchman’s contract situation had been one causing a large degree of worry at Old Trafford in recent months, with his clear potential, good form and reported unhappiness under Jose Mourinho leaving many fans fearing that he would leave the club.
It had been reported during Mourinho’s final months that while the then manager was willing to let the player go, the club’s hierarchy were not.
CONFIRMED: Anthony Martial has signed a contract extension with @ManUtd until 2024 pic.twitter.com/VGmxTscrvp
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 31, 2019
Since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager at Old Trafford the talk around Martial’s contract has been increasingly more positive however and it came as no surprise when the club announced that he had signed an extension.
“I am loving my time at this club,” he told the club after the extension was made public. “This club is all about winning trophies and I am sure the next piece of silverware is not that far away.
“I would like to thank Ole and his coaching staff for their belief in me and for helping me to take my game to the next level. This club is all about winning trophies and I am sure the next piece of silverware is not that far away.”
The 23-year-old, who joined the club in 2015 for a fee which could eventually rise to £56.7 million, has been in impressive form during the 2018/19 season after something of a fallow period in recent years.
After 18 league games this term he is one behind his total for last season, while he has doubled his total for the 2016/17 season.
Speaking to the club’s website about the deal, Solskjaer was effusive in his praise for the forward.
“Anthony is one of those naturally gifted players that any coach would love to work with. For a young man, he has a good footballing brain which, when coupled with his exceptional talent, makes for a player with an exciting future ahead of him. This is the perfect club for Anthony to progress his development as a top-class forward and we are all delighted he has signed a long-term deal.”
