Rio Ferdinand believes there is no way back for Anthony Martial at Manchester United following his imminent loan move to Sevilla.
The French international is set to join the La Liga side on loan for the remainder of the campaign after telling Ralf Rangnick last month he wanted to leave the club.
There is no buy option included in the deal and the Spaniards will be paying the 26-year-old’s full wages. Martial has been pictured touching down at Sevilla airport earlier today.
Giving his reaction to the deal on his Vibe with Five podcast, Ferdinand said: “It’s a good deal that suits both the player and the club. Anthony Martial needs this, he needs first team football on a regular basis.
“For the last year or so he hasn’t been a regular and he probably needs this move. Getting the Ballon D’Or added as a bonus in a contract puts the pressure on someone, but he hit the ground running.
“He came on against Liverpool and scored like he did and you think ‘wow this kid is going to be world class’. He’s shown glimpses during his Manchester United career where you think this kid could be ultra special, but then there have been times where he’s been underwhelming and you think this isn’t good enough.
“Hopefully he improves.”
Ferdinand believes when Martial receives the ball to feet “he’s a threat to any defender” and puts the opposition on “edge”, and when he’s running at teams he can be “phenomenal”.
But the BT Sport pundit felt United’s number nine was “inconsistent” and didn’t move enough off the ball and make runs in behind.
Rio added: “He’s quick, sometimes you’ve got to vary the way you attack opponents and you cannot always want the ball to feet.
“He didn’t hurt defenders in behind as much as he probably could have.”
Ferdinand feels Martial has the same amount of raw ability as Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, but he believes there needs to a “mentally shift” and “maturity” which needs to “click” within the Frenchman, in order for him to “fulfil his potential”.
Ferdinand added: “He’s a fabulous footballer on his day, but there hasn’t been enough of those days.”
Despite there being no buy option within the Sevilla loan agreement and United set to hire a new permanent manager at the end of the season, Ferdinand doesn’t see a way back for Martial at the Theatre of Dreams.
Rio added: “I don’t doubt his talent, you would love to build a team around his talent, but you need the whole package and the other elements of a player to turn up every week and perform.
“He hasn’t been able to do that.
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