Alan Shearer has likened Anthony Martial to Nicolas Anelka, but not for a reason the Manchester United striker will be pleased about.
Martial has struggled to live up to his potential at United after being signed from Monaco for £36 million in 2015, making him the world's most expensive teenager to that point.
While there have been flashes of his talent, and he is certainly a gifted footballer, he has not consistently produced, and this season, has seen his minutes decline significantly.
In fact, he has not started a Premier League match since October 2, more than two months ago, and was left out of Ralf Rangnick's first squad as United head coach entirely against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
It leaves his future very much in the air, and Shearer has likened Martial to Anelka, who he questions whether he ever truly fulfilled his potential after breaking onto the scene as a flying teenage centre-forward at Arsenal.
"Do you think, when you look at his attitude, you see a bit of Martial in him?" Shearer asked on the Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast.
Gary Lineker responded: "Bit moody?"
Shearer continued: "I don't mean this as a comparison ability-wise, Anelka was a lot better, no doubt about it."
"Martial has a lot of ability," Lineker responded.
"I know he does," Shearer said. "But I don't think he has as much as Anelka."
Martial has received warnings about his attitude and saving his United career.
Earlier this season, Dwight Yorke said he needed to buckle down and earn a regular starting role.
"When you play for this club and you’re not doing the business and your form dips for whatever reason you’re going to be under scrutiny," he said per Goal. "He’s got to buckle down really if he has a future at this football club.
"He’s undoubtedly got immense talent and all the attributes we like to see in an attacking player and there’s no question he can be that vital player for us but at the moment he’s not in the squad and he’s got to find a way to get back into the team."
Yorke added: "He’s been a bit of a mixed bag to be fair. He had that one season when he was outstanding and he looked a serious threat but I think he’s been unfairly treated in some way because I think that No.9 role is a specialist role and you have to play that position week in, week out, to get familiarised with it.
"When he first started off he started off on the left and then the right so he’s not really settled that much. He needs to be playing week in week out to really see the best of him. You can’t give him 10 or 20 minutes and expect him to be the finished article, it just doesn’t happen."
Whether Martial can reclaim a place in the squad under Rangnick remains to be seen, but the United coach will take no prisoners when it comes to those with a sour attitude.
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