Anthony Martial says he ‘followed Arsenal’ while growing up due to the French stars that used to play for the Gunners.
Manchester United signed Martial, 22, from Monaco in 2015 for £36.7million and became the most expensive teenager in history at the time.
The France international has since shined for the Red Devils both domestically and in Europe, scoring 43 goals in 151 games despite not cementing a regular starting role and playing wide of the front three.
Martial has been in impressive form for United and arguably one of their better performers this season, scoring seven goals in 14 outings in all competitions, but his future remains in doubt.
It’s thought that Martial was ‘disappointed’ at not been given the chance to talk to Arsenal in January, and since confirmed that he ‘followed’ the Gunners when he was growing up in France:
“I always followed English football. Manchester United because Patrice Evra was there and he comes from the same town as me.
“I followed Arsenal as Thierry Henry was there, also from Les Ulis.
“For my French heroes, I had Thierry Henry, of course, and then Zinedine Zidane, Zizou. They were the best. I admired strikers, number 10s.
“Another player who I really liked was Nicolas Anelka. He was a really great player, quick with loads of skill.
“I used to watch videos of everyone! Henry, Ronaldo – I would watch every striker on the internet, and sometimes, right before a game, I’d be by myself watching action clips, so I’d be able to reproduce what they were doing in those videos.”
Martial’s current contract expires at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen whether he will commit his long-term future to the Manchester club.
Arsenal are believed to be on the lookout for a replacement for Danny Welbeck after the forward suffered a long-term injury, and Unai Emery may consider a move for Martial in the near future – especially after the Frenchman’s latest comments.
