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Man Utd news: Anthony Martial ‘caught up’ in Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward war
MANCHESTER UNITED star Anthony Martial is being used as a “chess piece” in a war between Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward at Manchester United.
Manchester United clung on to Martial this summer despite the striker seeking to leave the club.
His agent confirmed at the start of the transfer window that Martial would look for an exit from Old Trafford this summer.
But no deal materialised before the Premier League window shut on August 9, and a move to France, Germany or Spain looks unlikely before Friday.
Now, French radio station RMC Sport are reporting that Martial is stuck between the feud bubbling away between Mourinho and executive vice-chairman Woodward.
According to the report, Mourinho wanted rid of the Manchester United player.
He tried to include Martial in deals to sign Toby Alderweireld from Tottenham and Chelsea’s Willian.
But those requests were ‘refused’ by his bosses who are determined to keep Martial.
RMC claim that while Mourinho wants rid of the player, Woodward sees Martial as one for the future.
The Frenchman was one of Woodward’s first big-money signings when arriving as a near-unknown from Monaco in 2015.
He cost £36m, with a further £22m available in add-ons.
That was a lot of money for a teenager and Martial has laboured to impress at times, especially under Mourinho.
RMC claim Mourinho requested the player be sold so he could reinvest the money in incoming transfers, with a trade deal for another player seemingly impossible.
But Woodward blocked any hope Mourinho had on the deal.
It is claimed the Old Trafford chief is concerned losing Martial now could come back to haunt United.
The warning signs come from Chelsea, who let Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne leave when Mourinho was in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The duo are now seen as two of the best players in the Premier League at Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.
Man United: I don't think Martial will move says Nicol
Dumping Martial onto the transfer market only for him to become a world beater a few years down the line is a risk Woodward does not want to take.
United played Tottenham on Monday night in a crunch Premier League clash, with pressure mounting on Mourinho already.
And Martial’s agent was part of the RMC team at the game, although he refused to comment on claims the player could have been sold to Spurs during the summer months.