According to reports from The Independent this evening, an unnamed club trumped Manchester United’s bid for former Monaco starlet Anthony Martial this summer.
The teenage sensation has made an emphatic start to his Red Devils career after arriving at Old Trafford for an initial £36million on summer deadline day, scoring three times from just five efforts at goal to become United’s top scorer in the Premier League. Across all competitions he boasts a return of four in seven.
French journalist Philippe Auclair claimed United’s seismic bid for the 19 year-old had left ‘people speechless in France‘ as reports first surfaced towards the end of the transfer window and there was a similar reaction here in England.
Many were even more shocked to discover that the France international’s move could eventually cost the Red Devils a staggering £58million due to performance-related add-ons, including winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
But according to The Independent, who cite Spanish publication Marca, Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev has revealed that an unnamed club actually offered more than United’s initial £36million fee.
Vasilyev said; “There was another club that offered even more than United. I will not say how much, but the fixed price – without variables – it was even better. And also they offered us to have him for a further year in Monaco.
But the boy wanted to go to Manchester, it was his dream. We let him go with the bonus of €30 million. Had it not been for so much money, he’d have stayed.”
The Independent speculate that due to financial constraints, the mystery bid is most likely to have come from either Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich or Juventus.
Arsene Wenger, however, insisted earlier today that he didn’t make an offer for Martial during the summer.
Did Manchester United spend too much on Martial? Comment below!
Also in the news this week:
Man United preparing bid for World Cup winning midfielder
Man United eyeing Portugal prospect in cut-price January swoop
Five formidable forwards linked with January moves to Arsenal
Man United tried ‘at all costs’ to sign CL-winning forward this summer
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