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After Premier League club Manchester United signed 19-year-old Anthony Martial for £36 million from Ligue 1 club AS Monaco, it raised a lot of eyebrows. Martial’s deadline day deal automatically became United’s most expensive player in this window and he also became the most expensive teenager in football history.
The Red Devils have been looking for a quality striker up front after the departures of Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce and Radamel Falcao after his loan spell came to an end. With Wayne Rooney being the only senior striker in the squad and Javier Hernandez also sold to Bayer Leverkusen, Martial’s transfer has been questioned by many.
The French forward scored 11 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Monaco last season and can be played across the forward line. Martial has been compared to a young version of Thierry Henry, who terrorized Premier League defences after he made a move to Arsenal from Monaco.
And Henry himself had a few doubts over whether the forward would be a success at United.
Question mark over Martial: Thierry Henry
When speaking about Martial, the Sky Sports pundit said, according to ESPN: “[Martial] has pace, can he score a lot of goals?”
“I actually don't know because he's only played 52 games. It's a weird one for me to say.
“It's a massive gamble that you need to take nowadays because of the situation Man United have.
Matial had impressed in the Champions League last season when Monaco played Arsenal at the Emirates in the first leg of the Round of 16 fixtures. The Ligue 1 side had beaten the Gunners 3-1 and Martial had set up Dimitar Berbatov on the counter-attack. Martial had also had shots on goal and created a number of chances which were either saved or saw teammates caught offside.
And Henry was quick to point that the teenager had potential and a ‘bright future’.
“We saw him at the Emirates last season playing with Monaco and causing trouble to the Arsenal defence, he has a bright future,” Henry said.
“But there's always a question mark, whether he can perform.”
Martial price is too high: Gary Neville
However, Gary Neville thought the price to sign a teenager was simply too high. Although reports stated that the transfer fee would be paid in installments, Nevile did not blame Martial and praised him, saying he needed opportunities.
"The price for Martial is big," Neville had tweeted. "However it's not the boys fault and I happen to think he's a very good player. Needs a chance. He's young."
Neville also wanted to put an end to the transfer window being open after the season had started, stating that it had become a ‘circus’ and that the system needed a ‘complete overhaul’.
