Man Utd news: Van Gaal plots Martial forward future as striker

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | November 3, 2015

Emerging French football talent Anthony Martial’s position long-term should be as an out-and-out striker, according to Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.

Signing for the Red Devils from Monaco, costing £36m this summer, the teenage attacker has scored five goals in a dozen outings for his new team so far ahead of the Champions League Group B return fixture between Man Utd and CSKA Moscow. His sensational start means Coral offer special odds of 4/1 for Martial to be named PFA Young Player of the Year.

“Better he develops in striker’s position”

“He is very young but I think it is better he develops in the striker’s position,” Van Gaal said of Martial. “But he can play left, striker and number 10. He doesn’t want to play number seven [wide right], but I am convinced he can; that’s another story.”

Martial’s remarkable progress since arriving at Old Trafford earned him praise by compatriot couple and former Red Devils duo Paul Pogba and Louis Saha.

Gatecrashing Les Bleus’ setup at a time when highly-rated Lyon duo Nabil Fekir and Alexandre Lacazette have suffered a serious injury and experienced a huge downturn in form respectively, Martial’s directness in front of goal provides an X-factor to excite French football fans.