Martial departs Man Utd after injury-plagued nine-year stint

Heartfelt words marked Anthony Martial’s farewell to Manchester United on Monday evening, as the French striker confirmed his departure after nine seasons at the club. The 28-year-old, who joined United from Monaco in 2015, expressed his “great emotion” at leaving Old Trafford, thanking the “best supporters in the world” for their “unwavering support”.

Martial’s time at United was marked by both success and injury setbacks. He scored 90 goals across all competitions for the Red Devils, winning the FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League, and Community Shield. However, his final appearance for the club came in December’s three-goal home defeat against Bournemouth due to recurring injury concerns.

Despite signing a new five-year deal in 2019, which included an option for United to extend his stay until June 2025, the club decided against exercising that clause. Martial’s struggles with form and fitness saw him score no more than 10 goals in a season since the 2019/2020 campaign, with just two goals in five starts across all competitions this term.

The Frenchman spent the second half of the 2021/2022 season on loan at Sevilla, where he found the net only once. Martial, who has earned 30 caps for France, scoring twice, expressed his gratitude to Manchester United and the fans, stating: “This club has left its mark on my career and offered me an incredible opportunity to play in front of you.”