Monaco: Martial insisted on ‘dream’ United move

Ian Watson

Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev claims another club outbid Man United for Anthony Martial but the striker insisted on a “dream” move to Old Trafford.

Martial completed his move to United on deadline day and has since made a big impression. The 19-year-old scored a stunning goal on his debut against Liverpool before netting a brace against Southampton and another in the Capital One Cup win over Ipswich.

The Red Devils paid £36million up front for the France forward, with add-ons meaning the fee could rise up to £58million. But Vasilyev says Monaco received a higher offer from another club, who were willing to loan Martial back to the Ligue 1 side for the rest of the season.

“There was another club that offered even more than United,” he told Marca. “I will not say how much, but the fixed price, without variables, it was even better. And also they offered us to have him for a further year in Monaco.

“But the boy wanted to go to Manchester, it was his dream. And we let him go with the bonus of 30million euros. Had it not been for so much money, he’d have stayed.”