Sevilla signed Manchester United striker Anthony Martial on loan yesterday and they agreed to pay his full wages and also the loan fee.
But will this transfer be a wise decision for the Frenchmen or a risky one, lets go deep into this topic:
Anthony Martial joined Manchester United from Monaco in 2015 for a fee of around £36 million. After a famous debut goal against Liverpool, it was evident that he had a lot of talent. Many called him ‘the next Thierry Henry’.
He’s been in and out of the team since his goals dried up. For the Red Devils, he has scored 79 goals and has helped them win three major trophies. But still he hasn’t gained any big personal achievements and his level was below-par in many games.
For the Frenchman, this was a very important season. Despite scoring just seven goals in all competitions last season, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemed to have faith in him, knowing what he can do when he is at his best.
At Old Trafford, this was his last chance to make an impact after failing to score above 20 goals in the past six to seven years.
Then Cristiano Ronaldo arrived. It didn’t matter how highly Solskjaer regarded Martial; the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would never be benched. Martial has only made eight appearances in all competitions since Ronaldo’s arrival, with half of them coming as substitute appearance.
As a result, he was really unhappy and began looking for a new club in January. His agent started having conversations with the club regarding a transfer. He has finally got his transfer and he has now joined Sevilla on a six-month loan.
To begin, it is not correct to say that this is a step backwards in Martial’s career. Man United may have a more illustrious past, but Sevilla is currently on par with them.
Also Read: Sheringham: Anthony Martial feels unloved at Manchester United
The 26-year-old has joined a title contender side, a team who have been making life difficult for Real Madrid this season. Sevilla are four points behind league leaders Real Madrid, but they have the best defensive record in the league, with only 16 goals conceded in 22 games.
However, they fall short in attack. In the league, just five clubs have scored more goals than them, with Rafa Mir leading the way with six goals this season. This is where they’ll be hoping Martial can make a difference, certainly he can.
Many will wonder if a forward with less goals in the past is the ideal man to lead an attacking line-up that isn’t working. In the last 11 months, the Frenchman has only scored twice for club and country in all competitions. This is, a horrible return.
However, if Julen Lopetegui believes he can bring out the best in him, it’s a risk worth taking. Despite injuries and not taking penalties, he had his greatest season in the 2019/20 season, when he scored 17 league goals.
And it wasn’t simply his goals that amazed the crowd. He looked smart, quick, and innovative– he held the ball effectively, had a fantastic link-up play, and caused defenders all sorts of difficulties.
This transfer will give the player with the actual game time he desires. The former Monaco man has missed the last two international competitions, with his most recent appearance for France coming at Euro 2016.
The World Cup is less than a year away, and if he’s on the bench at Old Trafford, he’s not going to fight his way up the pecking order. He’ll have to play, and he’ll have to play well this season.
Man United will have him back at the end of the season because the loan deal does not include a buy option. And, if he has a good few months of form behind him, he could make his way back into the starting XI.
Both Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani are in their late 30s. For long-term, the Red Devils will require a young dynamic striker. Anthony Martial could be that man if he gets his form back.
We think this could be a good move for both, Anthony Martial and Sevilla. Ralf Rangnick has done the job that many other previous managers failed to do and that is letting Martial leave for some much needed game-time.
