What a shame it would be were the striker to depart Old Trafford so soon.
Anyone that witnessed the remarkable, daring Manchester United debut of Anthony Martial would have staked a bundle on the French striker having a long career in England.
Within the space of two seasons, however, Martial has gone from next big thing to a man in danger of being cut adrift.
The 21-year-old scored 14 times, and assisted four, in his first season at Louis van Gaal’s United. He was occasionally stationed out on the left wing under the Dutchman but he showed enough glimpses to suggest he would be leading the United line for years to come.
Jose Mourinho took over from van Gaal last summer and asked an awful lot of his players, in terms of work-rate and sticking to his rigid game-plan. It took the likes of Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford to adjust but they got their eventually.
Martial rarely got an extended starting run in the team and both his confidence and form suffered. He played one more game than his debut season at United [41] but started only 28 times [18 in the league]. He got two more assists but only found the net eight times.
Mourinho appears content to let Martial leave but there are suggestions that he would prefer a loan deal. United paid out an initial £36m for the striker so they may not be willing to cut all ties just yet.
According to Corriere dello Sport, however, every player has his price.
Roma are reported to be keen on getting Martial in for the start of the 2017/18 season but we are incredulous about the amount they are said to be bidding – €34m [£30m].
United have been known for giving away top talents on the cheap over the past two decades [Mark Hughes, Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham] but selling on such an exciting, pacy attacker, who is in his early twenties, at a loss seems far-fetched.
As an opening gambit from Roma, it is pretty insulting. Particularly in a world where Gylfi Sigurdsson is on the market for £50m.
