Manchester United fans are relieved that Anthony Martial could soon leave Old Trafford after it emerged that the Premier League club are not planning to extend his contract.
Martial’s current deal with United expires in the summer and he is free to speak with clubs outside of England and sign a pre-contract agreement as of this month.
The 28-year-old French striker has become a divisive figure among United fans, with supporters often left frustrated with Martial’s lack of consistency at the Red Devils.
Martial has made five Premier League starts in 13 appearances this season and the Frenchman scored once and picked up an assist in United’s 3-0 win over Everton.
The former France international has also fallen down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag after the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund from Serie A side Atalanta last summer.
Ten Hag speaks on Martial’s future
Martial arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations after United splashed out an initial fee of £36m — rising to £58m in add-ons — to sign him from Monaco in 2015.
The former Monaco star was the world’s most expensive teenager at the time and was seen as a long-term prospect by former United manager Louis van Gaal.
However, Martial failed to consistently deliver in the final third for United, despite sporadically showing moments of brilliance on the pitch.
Despite being loaned out to Sevilla in 2022, Martial returned to Old Trafford and has been used sparingly by Ten Hag at United in the current Premier League campaign.
Speaking at his press conference on Thursday, Ten Hag had hinted that the club were in talks with Martial and refused to rule out a potential new deal at United.
“We triggered the options on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal [Mejbri],” he said.
“And we are talking with Raphael Varane and with Anthony Martial. I think that is an internal discussion between the club and the players.”
United fans’ reaction to Martial contract update
According to talkSPORT on Friday, United are not expected to offer Martial a new contract at the club and the former France forward is likely to leave Old Trafford.
United have the option to trigger a one-year extension in Martial’s contract, but the publication reported that talks are ‘unlikely to result in fresh terms.’
Red Devils fans on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, welcomed the latest updates on Martial and are more than ready to see the player leave.
“About eight years too late! Finally, he’s going. Another transfer that had potential and started [amazingly] but quickly fizzled out,” one fan said.
“I’m beginning to recognise my club,” another added.
A third posted: “Finally, United [are] making strong decisions.”
While one X user wrote: “Good. Let’s replace him with a sensible striker.”
Someone else tweeted: “Hallelujah. Fingers crossed he’s out of the door this month, though…”
And a sixth commented: “Said it. Very bad career at United. Small clubs will take him.”
Another fan simply stated: “His time is long overdue.”
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