Anthony Martial agent denies rumours of issue with Erik ten Hag

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 18 January 2024

Martial agent denies rumours of issue with Ten Hag

Anthony Martial's agent insists that the forward has not fallen out with Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag and reveals his client needs a minor operation.

Anthony Martial's agent has insisted that the forward has not fallen out with Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag despite his recent absence from the first-team picture.

The ex-Monaco youngster has not turned out for the 20-time English champions since the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on December 9, missing the team's last seven matches in all competitions.

Martial was initially absent due to illness, but there were then suggestions that he was simply being left out ahead of a possible departure during the January transfer window.

The striker has allegedly been training alone over the last few weeks to increase his fitness, with Ten Hag saying ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur match last weekend that the forward was "having medical treatment".

Martial's agent has insisted that his client has no issue with the club, but he is now set for a further spell on the sidelines, with a minor operation on his adductors planned.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial looks dejected after the match on August 19, 2023 © Reuters

"What is said about him is completely false," Philippe Lamboley told Sky Sports News.

"He was not excluded from the group and he has no problem with the coach. Anthony has been in Manchester for nine seasons and if he was not a great professional then he would not have been at the club for so long.

"He is simply going to undergo a small operation on his adductors, which he should have done for a while and which did not allow him to be 100%, so he will do it now."

Martial only has a contract at Old Trafford until the end of June, with Man United deciding against taking up a one-year option in the Frenchman's contract at the start of this month.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial in action with Bournemouth's Lewis Cook on May 20, 2023 © Reuters

There has been widespread speculation surrounding his future in recent weeks, with a number of clubs from the Saudi Pro League thought to be willing to offer him a lucrative deal.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan, Fenerbahce and West Ham United are also said to be keen on a player who has scored twice and provided two assists in 19 appearances at club level this season.

However, news of the minor operation that he will undergo have all but ended his chances of leaving in January.

Martial has scored 90 goals and registered 55 assists in 317 appearances for the 20-time English champions since making the move to the club from Monaco in the summer of 2015.

At this stage, it is unclear how much longer he will spend on the sidelines, but Man United are not in action again until January 28 against Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup.