Manchester United: Martial fears, Van Gal drinks, De Gea fumes
Manchester United: a round-up of Man United news in the Press.
The Times: “Family’s fears at ‘crazy fee’ for Anthony Martial”.
United have signed 19-year-old Anthony Martial for £58.8 million (£22m uyp-front plus £14.3 million spread over four years to follow and £22.5 million in performance-related payments). It’s madness. Martial says it is only “quite crazy” to have become the most expensive teenager in world football.
Martial adds:
“My family are very happy for me. They are a bit frightened because of the amount of money [involved] but I stay in my bubble. I just want to prove my value to Manchester United. I have been told since I was very young that I have the characteristics to play in England. I am in a hurry to get better and show my worth. I don’t know if I am worth €80 million. I am only going for the sporting side. It is quite crazy for a player of my age, but that is the market. It is my job to show what I can do. I do not feel any particular pressure.
“I will have more visibility at United and if I play like I know I can, I do not see any reason why it should go badly. It is a challenge for me, but I think I am ready.”
Martial adds on the news that Wayne Rooney had never heard of him.
“It is normal he [Rooney] does not know me. I have not played a lot in Ligue 1 and not at all for the national team.”
The Guardian: “Monaco helpless against Manchester United in Anthony Martial sale”
Monaco’s vice-president Vadim Vasilyev admits the “unprecedented resources” of English clubs means selling players like Anthony Martial is unavoidable…
“We really wanted to keep [Martial] on the team but Manchester has made an incredible offer, almost the close of the market, an offer that neither the club nor the player could refuse. That’s football. It is evident that certain clubs – especially the British – have unprecedented resources and it is hard to resist.
“Of course I’d like to keep our players for longer but we must be realistic about the power of these clubs.”
The Sun: “Farce ‘n furious De Gea slams United for collapse of Real deal”
DAVID DE GEA is blaming Manchester United for the collapse of his dream move to Real Madrid. The Spain keeper believed the £29million deal was effectively sealed on Monday afternoon before it fell apart at the eleventh hour amid a series of claims and counter-accusations between the two clubs.
We don’t hear from the player.
Friends of De Gea have branded United’s conduct as “catastrophic” and “unbelieveable” although the player accepts Real’s efforts at brinkmanship were also elements in the debacle. La Liga chief Javier Tebas said: “I am a lawyer and I know in these cases there are three or four different versions. From what I know, what happened is closer to the version of Real Madrid.”
Well, he would say that.
De Gea, 24, was yesterday named in United’s 25-man Champions League squad and if he plays it will mean he would be cup-tied for the Spanish giants, potentially scuppering a January switch.
BBC: “David De Gea: Man Utd keeper calm and relaxed – Juan Mata”
Says Mata:
“It’s been a manic few days for him, he’s my friend and I’m there for him for whatever he needs. Right now he’s focused on the two upcoming games for the national team; being here will do him good and he’s going to be as professional as he has been throughout his career.
“His personality will help him. He manages to play even better in moments of maximum pressure and stress. His personality will help him on and off the pitch. We all know what a great goalkeeper he is and he would make any team in the world better. The fans will get behind him and so will the team.”
United winger Ashley Young told BBC Sport:
“De Gea is a professional player, always has been, always will be.”
Spain manager Vicente del Bosque said De Gea’s Euro 2016 finals spot is at risk:
“If he doesn’t play it will be very difficult for him to come. He needs to be professional and move on from this episode. I hope that he starts playing again and is happy, and if he plays well we can bring him along.”
Daily Mail: “Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal won’t lose sleep over his lack of popularity… and the Dutchman will feel it has been a good summer for the club”
By all accounts, Louis van Gaal toasted the close of the transfer window with a large glass of red wine at his holiday home in the Algarve. ‘My paradise in Portugal,’ as he likes to call it.
The Dutchman and his employers at Manchester United clearly feel it has been a good summer for the club. Six new signings will be the exception rather than the norm from now on, and the world-record deal for teenager Anthony Martial pushed United’s spending well north of the £100million mark for the second year in a row.
Surely United fans would swap all those new faces for one genuine superstar?
Posted: 3rd, September 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
