Erik ten Hag has ruled that Anthony Martial will not be sold or loaned by Manchester United in the current window as Cristiano Ronaldo’s uncertain future means the manager needs a No.9 for the new season.
Martial has been one of United’s best players on their pre-season tour, scoring in each of the three wins – against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.
However, the 26-year-old disappointed last season, with just two goals and one assist in 23 games for United and Sevilla, where he spent the second half of the season on loan. This led to speculation he could be let go, but with Ronaldo wanting to leave and absent from the two-week tour due to a family issue, Ten Hag have decided Martial should be retained.
Even if Ronaldo stays, a prospect made more likely by the 37-year-old’s dwindling options, Martial looks almost certain to start as first-choice centre-forward under Ten Hag, because the veteran striker Portuguese has not trained yet. under the new manager. Ten Hag’s other senior options at center forward are Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Each, however, prefers to operate on the wing.
Ten Hag has urged Donny van de Beek to prove himself after a difficult two years at United, which included a loan spell at Everton for the second half of last season.
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Ten Hag, who coached the midfielder at Ajax, said: “It’s the same for every player: he has to do it himself. I as a coach and the coaching staff around him can do everything to create the right conditions for him to perform, but in the end the player has to do it himself. They must take responsibility for their performance. Donny has the ability. I’ve seen it, but he has to prove himself.”