Premier League giants Manchester United will avoid paying AS Monaco at least 7 million pounds when Anthony Martial leaves Old Trafford this summer, as the Frenchman failed to meet a couple of clauses in his nine year spell with the Red Devils.
Martial was widely regarded as being one of the best young players in Europe at the time of his departure from the Stade Louis II in 2015, so much so that Monaco inserted a Ballon d’Or clause into his contract with United.
The original deal for the signature of the French forward was worth 36 million pounds in upfront cash with three further payments worth 7.2 million pounds depending on if certain clauses were met. However, only one of the clauses has since been met, meaning the overall deal will end up costing United 43.2 million pounds instead of 57.6 million pounds.
While the full amount has not been paid by the Red Devils, the 36 million sum was enough to shatter the transfer record for a teenager at the time.
Martial hit the ground running in the Premier League, scoring twice in his debut with United, but after 317 appearances and 90 goals to show for them, the former Monaco player’s time at Old Trafford has been dubbed a disappointment by many.
The first missed clause in Martial’s contract came about after he failed to make 25 appearances in four years with the French national team and the time to claim the highly prestigious Ballon d’Or award with United has come and gone.
At 28 years of age the future is not looking bleak for the Frenchman that raised expectations so high, with the likes of Turkish giants Fenerbahce and multiple Saudi Pro League clubs approaching Martial for his services this January transfer window.
Martial opted to stay at United until the end of this 2023/24 season despite not starting under the Red’s manager Erik ten Hag. The former Monaco forward may still rediscover his once lethal form, but he will not rediscover it at the United of today.
