Varun Pai
Ralf Rangnick lays down the conditions for the departure of Manchester United ace Anthony Martial in January
Speaking in an interview, as quoted by The Mirror, Ralf Rangnick has revealed that Manchester United could let Anthony Martial leave in January only if it suits the interests of the club.
The 25-year-old has been largely anonymous this season. He lost his place under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood have also found some game-time alongside the Portuguese superstar.
However, Martial has had to settle for a place on the bench. The player’s agent revealed at the start of this month that he wants to leave in January. The Frenchman has also apparently informed Rangnick of his intention to depart the club.
Regardless, the gaffer recently explained that he is only prepared to let the player leave if it is in the best interest of the club.
“I think in a way this is understandable. I could follow his (Martial) thoughts but on the other hand. It is also important to see the situation of the club.
I told him ‘listen, as long as there is no club showing interest in him [he will stay]’, and it should not only be in the interest of the player it should also be in the interest of the club. As far as I know, there has been no offer from any other club, and, as long as this is the case, he will stay.”
Smart decision by Rangnick?
The French international has scored only once in 10 appearances this season. But he remains a viable option to bring off the bench to change the game. For all his inconsistencies, Martial is still a very good player on and off the ball.
Rangnick may or may not churn the best out of him but if his departure does not suit our interests, keeping him till the end of the season is the smarter option. The rising number of Covid-19 cases is a massive issue, and given that there is no criterion for calling off games, there could be matches where we could be without some of our key players.
Moreover, with the FA Cup starting next month, the workload is going to increase slightly. Thus, in such a situation, Martial could be deployed to maintain a strong starting XI. It also bodes well for us that he can play various roles across the frontline.
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Hence, the 25-year-old is set to enter the January transfer window with an unpredictable future. There is a lot to ponder over in the coming weeks, but for now, the former AS Monaco star remains a Man United player and shall have to fight his way back into the starting line-up.
His form in the 2019/20 season went on to show what he can do. He has the capability to make things happen in the final third of the pitch and the France international could still use the second half of the season to prove his worth to the team.
