Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has said that "there is no way" Anthony Martial should still be at the club due to his struggles in recent seasons.
The 27-year-old has been consistently linked with a move away from Old Trafford over the last few years and that was again the case during the recent transfer window.
Man United are believed to have been open to offers for the Frenchman over the summer, but the only suitable bid is thought to have arrived from Saudi Arabia, with Martial making it clear that he was not interested in a move away from Europe at this stage of his career.
Martial has only scored once and provided one assist in 13 appearances for the 20-time English champions during a disappointing start to the 2023-24 campaign.
The ex-Monaco youngster was given the chance to make his mark as a starter against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, but he again struggled and was withdrawn in the 64th minute.
© Reuters
Martial, who has scored 89 goals and registered 54 assists in 311 appearances for Man United in all competitions, only has a contract at Old Trafford until next June.
The Red Devils have the option to activate another 12 months on the deal, though, and that might occur with a view to selling him next summer.
Neville, speaking ahead of Man United's 3-0 home loss to Newcastle, admitted that he was shocked to still see Martial leading the line for his former club.
"Sometimes I ask myself the question, when you walk away from a broadcast like Sunday thinking 'are we being too harsh?'," Neville told Sky Sports News.
© Reuters
"But when you hear that stat that a guy has been at the club nine years - a goalscorer that cost £50m, £60m, £70m - has scored basically 89 goals in nine years and we still can't get him out the club, I don't think we are being too harsh. I don't think we're being harsh enough.
"The failings of the football department and recruitment is just absolutely incredible. They're human beings at the end of the day and no one wants to go on the pitch, play badly and not achieve their standards. Nobody wants to be injured.
"So I accept all those factors but the reality is there is no way he should still be leading the line at Man United in any competition, even the Carabao Cup.
"It's just where the club is at the moment, they don't have a centre forward apart from [Rasmus] Hojlund who I think has real promise but he needs experience alongside him."
West Ham United are believed to be interested in signing Martial next year, with the attacker's time at Old Trafford seemingly coming to an end.
Matt Law
