Anthony Martial, it is fair to say, was not amused when the board went up at the Vitality Stadium to announce the end of Manchester United’s No. 9’s afternoon with 33 minutes left to play.
Throughout the years, the Frenchman’s body language has rarely worked in his favour. Now, as Erik ten Hag was about to introduce Wout Weghorst at his cost, he went into full pet lip mode before marching off and headed straight for the tunnel.
To be fair to Martial, there are perhaps one or two other United attackers who would have been better served by being substituted before Bournemouth on Saturday. On the other hand, it will never be fun to think about being replaced by a 30-year-old journeyman without a Premier League goal for the team who does a little bit of rattling but not much else. But Martial should not have received much sympathy in the past, present, or future.
As another summer approaches, United fans are left to lament yet another dreadfully underwhelming – if entirely predictable – campaign from Martial. They also wonder if this is the transfer window when everyone will finally be put out of their misery and that peculiar purgatory of misguided hope that he will turn things around will be banished once and for all.
Many supporters would prefer it if United made a profit on Martial, the money went to the Harry Kane charity, and the England captain came to their aid – better late than never. But when it comes to United, transfers, and Martial, when has anything ever been that easy?
In the midst of the struggles to find a quality replacement, Martial finds himself preparing to start against Crystal Palace on the opening day only for the sudden onset of a hamstring injury to force a late withdrawal. There have been jokes about United getting to early August with the Kane chase having gone cold. As Marcus Rashford looks on in confusion, Weghorst steps forward, his loan from Burnley now a permanent arrangement.
Okay, so perhaps it was a bit harsh, and considering that the club’s ownership was still in flux, a lot might have happened before that, but United supporters could be excused for being worried.
Even if it’s not quite as terrifying as the concept of Weghorst staying on, the idea of Martial playing his ninth season for United and then walking away as another free agent at the end of the following season is unsettling. But who is going to sign him? With one more injury-plagued, apathetic season remaining on his contract for £200,000 per week, he hasn’t exactly placed himself in the sale display. He’s scored just eight goals in 27 games, and it all seems like a little too much for him.
Erik ten Hag might be able to persuade whoever is in charge of the ship this summer to accept a significantly reduced cost to assist simplify the process, but it is still likely that Martial will have to take a significant decrease in income someplace else, barring United paying him off.
In Martial’s defence, he agreed to a sizable cut last season in order to push through a loan transfer to Sevilla, only to return to Old Trafford after a miserable five months in Spain. Nevertheless, with each passing year of disinterest, he gets a little bit more difficult to move on from. Now 27, he. Amazingly, he has only four more games to play for United to reach 300 appearances. He ought to be in his prime, yet the feeling of drift has only become stronger.
There is still another issue. Ten Hag is a striker light already. The boss will need two forwards if Weghorst and Martial both leave, which both have to happen. Is there the money and resources to pull it off, especially with other issues to take care of and Martial one of several players the club needs to let go?
All things considered, Martial’s Old Trafford career has been rather like a trailer for a movie that makes a lot of promises and briefly seems to be on the verge of beginning, but eventually leaves you feeling underwhelmed and angry.