€80m Manchester United striker: Wayne Rooney did not know me

Anthony Martial signed for Manchester United this summer
Anthony Martial signed for Manchester United this summer

Martial

New Manchester United signing Anthony Martial has claimed he wasn’t surprised that Wayne Rooney didn’t know who he was but he is ready to justify his price tag. United secured the services of the uncapped 19-year-old Frenchman on deadline day by paying an initial £36m but including the add-ons, the fee could go up to £58m (€80m).

The French youngster who has been called to represent his national side was quoted (by Independent) speaking from his training camp, “It’s normal Rooney doesn’t know me. Its my frst time with France and I didn’t play much in Ligue 1. I will learn a lot from him.”

Martial also claimed that he doesn’t know if he is worth €80m and left the matter claiming that it’s for the clubs to decide if he is worth that figure. The teenager however sounded confident that he is ready to prove his worth. The report from the Independent also states that Rooney asked team mate Morgan Schneiderlin who Martial was.

Schneiderlin was later quoted saying, “I told him(Rooney) he’s(Martial) a great player with great potential, who has played some good matches with Monaco last season and the beginning of this. I told him he is technical and powerful. A little like Therry Henry, even if it’s the press who are making that comparison.”

Elsewhere, Bleacher Report has come with a piece of information I would love to share with the readers of Soccerlens.

The media outlet reports that Martial’s amateur club CO Les Ulis who developed him are set to receive £270,000 of Martial’s £36m transfer fee. Martial joined CO Les Ulis when he was just six years old before being snapped up by Lyon at 14. The amateur club which have also developed the likes Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra will receive 0.75% of Martial’s transfer fee.

Bleacher Report also quote Les Ulis coach saying,”The figure will cover up to four or five years of our budget. We are always struggling to make ends meet. This money will help us secure existing jobs and renew our equipment. At the football school, we’ve been using the same footballs and training shirts over the past four years.”

This is what you call an amazing story.

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