Wenger adds Martial to ‘I nearly signed him’ list

Matt Stead
Anthony Martial: Scored on his debut against Liverpool

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Anthony Martial is the 427th player he nearly signed at Arsenal before the striker joined Manchester United.

Martial joined Manchester United for £36.7million on transfer deadline day this summer, but it was a deal that surprised Arsenal boss Wenger.

The Frenchman says he had held a long-term interest in the 19-year-old – even trying to sign him in 2014 – but that Monaco told him they were not willing to sell.

“I thought they would not sell him this year because they had sold so many other players,” Wenger added.

“They said they would not sell him and I thought they were not in any need to sell and would maintain their word.

“The amount of money was massive but Monaco could have sold him next season instead. I was surprised they sold him. Only an exceptional amount of money would do it.

“We always liked him, already when he was in Lyon,” Wenger told the Daily Star. “That was also a surprise, that Lyon sold him for five million euros.”