Manchester United overrules Ten Hag’s decision

Manchester United has reached a pivotal juncture concerning the future of French forward Anthony Martial, marking the end of a nine-year association between the player and the club.

Martial, who arrived at Old Trafford from Monaco as a promising teenager, commanded a significant fee of £36 million initially, potentially rising to £58 million with add-ons.

Anthony Martial’s tenure at Manchester United has been characterized by intermittent flashes of brilliance amidst periods of inconsistent form and underperformance, tallying 90 goals across 317 appearances for the club.

The 28-year-old’s current season has seen a dip in his goal-scoring prowess, netting only twice across all competitions.

Despite recent speculations hinting at a possible contract extension, the club’s recent confirmations of new deals for players like Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Hannibal Mejbri do not include plans for Martial’s renewal.

Reports from talkSPORT suggest that under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who now oversees football operations, Manchester United has opted against offering Martial a fresh contract.

His current deal, inked in 2019 during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure, held a five-year term with the provision to trigger a one-year extension until 2025.

However, amidst indications from manager Erik ten Hag about ongoing discussions with Martial’s representatives, the club stands firm on its decision not to pursue contract negotiations, diverging from the past scenario.

Likewise, Manchester United has decided against exercising the one-year extension option in Raphael Varane’s contract, although efforts are underway to negotiate new terms with the World Cup-winning defender.

Varane is now eligible to engage in discussions with foreign clubs for a potential free transfer.