Anthony Martial left Manchester United’s summer preseason tour of the United States in order to be home with his partner for the birth of their son. Initially, United manager Jose Mourinho was supportive of his young forward’s going home to France so he could experience this major milestone in his life first hand.
However, it wasn’t long until Mourinho was throwing Martial under the bus, saying publicly that Martial should have been back with the team in Michigan this past weekend. Now that United have flown home from the USA, will Anthony Martial be re-joining the squad, and if so, when?
This current situation also places the spotlight back on the fact that Martial’s agent has said earlier this summer that his client wants out of United. Transfer gossip linking Martial away from the club has definitely not been in short supply either.
The uncertain future of Anthony Martial at his current club came up during Mourinho’s press opportunities in Miami connected to their 2-1 win over Real Madrid in a friendly.
Watch this clip below:
Jose Mourinho has no idea if Anthony Martial will return to Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/OqgHYRz6sH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 1, 2018
“Anthony Martial? Is better for [press officer] Karen [Shotbolt] to answer if she wants to answer,” Mourinho responded when he asked if Martial is going to be transferred to another team or not.
She replied: “We’re here to talk about the game.”
Then a different reporter pressed Mourinho on whether Martial would be rejoining his teammates this preseason, Mourinho responded: “I don’t know.”
Obviously, a situation like this is very tense, but the tension could get ratcheted up very quickly. Martial is reportedly facing a £180,000 fine for missing eight days of training.
Anthony Martial facing £180,000 fine after going AWOL from Man United's pre-season tour of USA and missing EIGHT days of training | @ChrisWheelerDM https://t.co/n3bkHhc0pO
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) August 1, 2018
If you thought the relationship between Anthony Martial and the club/Jose Mourinho was strained now, well buckle up because it could get even worse before the situation actually resolves itself.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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