It seems a lifetime ago that 'Tony Martial, scores again' chants from Manchester United fans were loudly heard around Old Trafford.
Almost the entirety of last season was played in stadia devoid of atmosphere, colour and emotion, however, when United fans did finally make their long-awaited pilgrimage to Old Trafford as the country began to step back to normality, there was hardly an outpouring of affection for Anthony Martial. The Frenchman was sidelined through injury and was quite the irrelevance.
Martial scored four goals from 23 Premier League appearances last season. When he was fit and available, he was regularly selected by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and yet he did very little on the pitch to vindicate that faith.
It seemed like blind loyalty from Solskjaer at times.
The forward's spectacular debut against Liverpool in 2015 — after Martial joined United from Monaco for £36m — was made all the more captivating by his price-tag combined with his low profile. United appeared to have unearthed one of the world's rising stars.
That display, marked by a sensational debut goal, had United fans dreaming of the future with Martial's natural talent and vast potential knowing no bounds.
There have now been six years since Martial's debut and the player's ceiling at Old Trafford has been reached. It's not where United fans thought it would be and his time at the club has been brutally disappointing, despite the occasional glimpses of brilliance.
That has been always been the problem for Martial. He's never been able to produce consistently strong performances and that's the minimum expected at a club like United. When Solskjaer started Martial against Everton in October, it felt like the Norwegian was giving him an opportunity that he didn't deserve, which has been a recurring theme throughout his United career.
Martial scored the only goal in that game but that might be his last for the club as his agent, Philippe Lamboley, explained that it was the player's intention to leave United last week. "Anthony wishes to leave the club in January," Lamboley told Sky Sports.
"He just needs to play. He doesn't want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon."
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Ralf Rangnick responded to those comments by stating Martial should speak to him or the club on the matter and he also claimed his agent's quotes didn't concern him. United fans watched on with great interest as those events unfolded.
The majority of the fanbase have deemed Martial surplus to requirements for some time now, and they might finally get their wish.
Martial was an irrelevance last season and he remains in that bracket. United are stacked with attacking talent and the Frenchman has gradually fallen down the pecking order. There can be no more patience with the player; it's time to go.
But which club is a realistic destination for Martial in January? The post-pandemic market means clubs in Europe will struggle to meet Martial's wage demands and the Premier League doesn't promise much, either, with the exception of a cash-rich Newcastle.
The Magpies might have sickening wealth but they're bottom of the table. It remains to be seen whether Martial is willing to go that low. Either way, United should test the legitimacy of his agent's remarks on game time by dangling the carrot to Newcastle.
Martial leaving on loan seems more feasible but securing a transfer fee for the player would allow Rangnick to bring in someone that he wants in the January transfer window. It's clear a permanent move is more desirable and it would signal the start of a new era.
Solskjaer made steady headway in clearing out the deadwood at United and Rangnick needs to finish that job.
United fans don't want Martial at the club, the player wants to leave and an exit would help boost Rangnick's transfer kitty.
Au revoir, Anthony.
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