Erik ten Hag has decided Anthony Martial will not be sold or loaned by Manchester United in the current window because Cristiano Ronaldo’s uncertain future means the manager needs the No 9 for the new season.
Martial has been one of United’s best performers on their pre-season tour, scoring in each of the three wins – against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.
Yet the 26-year-old disappointed last term, managing only two goals and one assist in 23 appearances for United and Sevilla, where he spent the second half of the season on loan. This caused speculation he might be allowed to depart but with Ronaldo wishing to leave and not being on the two-week tour because of a family issue, Ten Hag has decided he should retain Martial.
Even if Ronaldo stays – a prospect that has become more likely owing to the 37-year-old’s dwindling options – Martial looks almost certain to start as the first-choice centre-forward under Ten Hag, because the veteran Portuguese forward is yet to train under the new manager. Ten Hag’s other senior options as a central striker are Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Each, though, 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 at Everton for the second part of last season.
Ten Hag, who coached the midfielder at Ajax, said: “It’s the same for every player: he has to do it by himself. Me as a manager and the coaching staff around him can do everything to set the right conditions so he can perform but in the end the player has to do it by himself. They have to take responsibility for their performance. Donny has the capability. I have seen it but he has to prove himself.”