Anthony Martial was released from his contract by Manchester United last summer.
Roy Keane’s reaction said more than a thousand words after former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described striker Anthony Martial as “impossible to play against” during his time at the club.
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Martial, who signed for United in 2015 for £36 million at the age of 19, was released from his contract in the summer of 2024. The French striker then found a new home in Greece with AEK Athens, becoming the highest-paid player in the history of the Greek top division.
Martial scored seven goals in 19 appearances for AEK as they finished fourth in the Greek Super League and secured a place in this year’s Conference League.
He was praised by the Greek media for his role in AEK’s title chase during the winter months, but he missed most of the end of the season due to injury.
The 30-year-old moved to Mexican club Monterrey in September, but his time in America has not gone as well so far, as Martial has not scored in any of his nine appearances.
The latter part of his time at Manchester United was marked by injuries, and he scored only two goals in his final season with the club.
Martial was seen as a future Ballon d’Or candidate when he moved to Old Trafford, and manager Louis van Gaal stated that he had signed the Frenchman for future United bosses.
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However, he scored 10 goals in 27 games in 2018/19, and followed that up with a career-best of 17 goals in 32 games the following season to prove his talent.
Solskjaer was in charge at Old Trafford in both of those seasons, and he undoubtedly helped get the best out of the French striker.
Speaking on The Overlap’s “Stick to Football”, Solskjaer said: “So talented, so talented. On his good days, he was impossible to play against.
He had a good season. They played together, him and Marcus [Rashford], when we finished second that year [in 2019/20].
Everyone wanted the inner left position. Him, Marcus, Paul Pogba.”
As soon as Solskjaer described Martial as “impossible to play against”, Keane – who was often critical of Martial – leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. “On his good days,” Keane said. “It’s not a good thing, what Ole just said. On his good days. That means you won’t get as many of them.
It’s just opinions, Ole. No problem.”
What has Keane said about Martial?
Keane regularly criticizes Martial for his performances in his final seasons as a Manchester United player.
In December 2023, he urged the Frenchman to move down to the lower divisions, telling Sky Sports: “We mention Martial. We forgive Martial because he scores a goal every 14 years.
He touches balls and gives the ball away cheaply. You might as well go down to lower divisions.”
After United lost 2-0 to Tottenham in August 2023, Keane angrily said: “They change players like Martial. They take turns on these players… you might as well swap Frank Stapleton and Norman Whiteside [both played for United in the 1980s].
Martial is not going to get you out of trouble.”
And in January 2020, after Martial missed a big chance during United’s 2-0 derby loss to Liverpool, the Irishman commented: “To me, it sums up his career in a nutshell at United. Excellent build, but you hit that goal, no excuses. The big strikers at Man United who are remembered by the supporters, they certainly hit the goal and the net.
That’s why that guy isn’t quite good enough for Man United.”
