MARTIAL’S LAW IS HE WON’T GO
RALF RANGNICK has told Anthony Martial he can only leave Manchester United next month if the deal is right for the club.
Rangnick has held talks with the France striker, who wants to leave Old Trafford after six-and-a-half years because of a lack of game-time.
While the interim chief said he sympathised with Martial’s situation, he told the 25-year-old attacker – who joined from Monaco for £36million in 2015 – any deal must ultimately work for the Reds.
“We spoke at length,” said Rangnick (below).
“He explained to me he’s been at Manchester United now for the last seven years and he feels it’s the right time for a change, to go somewhere else. In a way this is understandable, I could follow his thoughts.
“On the other hand, it’s also important to see the situation of the club.
“We have Covid times, we have three competitions in which we still have high ambitions and we want to be as successful as we can.
“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, Anthony will stay.”
On Martial’s compatriot Paul Pogba, who is returning from injury and is out of contract in the summer, Rangnick said: “I’ve spoken to Paul.
“On the day he came back from Dubai, we spoke in person.
“Right now, it’s about him getting fit again, to get training-fit, not just be match-fit.
“This will take us another couple of weeks and, until then, my full focus is on the players who are available and who can play in the upcoming games.”