Anthony Martial’s agent has confirmed that his client wants to leave Manchester United this summer.
The 22-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular starting place since Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Old Trafford and paid the price last month when he failed to win a spot in France’s World Cup squad.
Martial’s representatives have held negotiations with United over a renewed contract for the past eight months but on Wednesday night, his agent Philippe Lamboley revealed those talks had reached an impasse.
“After thinking about all the possibilities, Anthony wants to leave Manchester United,” Lamboley told RMC Sport. “There are many scenarios. For now, it’s premature to talk about it. Anthony will speak later to explain all of this.
“Manchester United want to extend Anthony’s contract and do not want him to leave, but we have not been able to find an agreement for several months.
“I think that when Manchester United – which is the most powerful club in the world, it must be remembered – do not find an agreement in eight months of negotiations, it is because they do not really want to make him an important member of the team.”
Lamboley added that any decision on Martial’s future ultimately lies with United, as the France international’s current Old Trafford contract will only expire next year.
The remarks will nevertheless push Martial closer to the Old Trafford exit door, with a move this summer now likely.
Martial made just 18 Premier League starts for United last season, with only five coming after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in mid-January.
“[Martial] was voted three times as player of the month by the fans. Then arrived the transfer window of January,” Lamboley said.
“I will not comment on the consequences of this transfer window. Everyone will have his opinion, I think he must resume the course of his career. The time has come.”
Martial joined United in the summer of 2015 for an initial £36m fee, making him the most expensive teenage signing in history. The youngster provided many of United’s few highlights over the course of the following season, Louis van Gaal’s final campaign in charge.
Since Mourinho’s arrival in the summer of 2016, however, Martial has gradually fell out of favour and into a bit-part role. Last season, he played a total of 2,337 minutes with United – the lowest single-season amount of his Old Trafford career to date.
