Jose Mourinho claims not to know when Anthony Martial will join up to train with Manchester United again.
Martial, who wishes to secure a move away from United this summer, left United’s pre-season tour of the United States last week for Paris in order to attend the birth of his son.
The tour ended with a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in Miami on Tuesday night and United will now travel back to Manchester before facing Bayern Munich in a final pre-season friendly at the Allianz Arena.
However, upon being asked when Martial would return to training and whether he would be in contention to play against Bayern, Mourinho deflected the question.
“Anthony Martial? It is better for Karen [Shotbolt, United’s press officer] to answer if she wants to answer,” he said at the Hard Rock Stadium, following the win over Madrid.
When pressed on the matter, Mourinho claimed not to know whether Martial would return to take part in United's preparations for the Bayern friendly.
Mourinho went on to play down the importance of United’s first pre-season victory in normal time, but praised the performances of his senior players on the tour this summer.
“The match doesn’t change anything,” he said of the victory over Madrid.
“My professional players were amazing all pre-season because they know we play against good teams, against good opponents. We have just a few players here and lots of kids.
“People like [Ander] Herrera, [Eric] Bailly, [Juan] Mata, [Matteo] Darmian – they were phenomenal all pre-season, playing almost every minute of every game,” he added.
“The game today – win 2-1, lose 2-1, draw 2-2 – doesn’t change anything, but of course I know the players I can count on. These guys are amazing professionals.
“They give everything for the club, for the prestige of the club. It is not nice to come here and lose 6-1 versus Real Madrid today, and they were phenomenal.”
