Sign up for our newsletter to get the biggest stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox.
We have newsletters
Sign up for our newsletter to get the biggest stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox.
We have newsletters
It’s a damning indictment against Anthony Martial who may have played his last game for Manchester United when we’re just past the halfway point of the season.
The number nine, who is in his ninth year, is on the verge of testimony, but the only testimony he gets is a segment on the club’s website that warns of the consequences of mismanaging players’ contracts.
He has been recovering from groin surgery lately and would be lucky enough to be able to put a United shirt back on if his recovery goes according to plan and he will be seen in early April. It will be the 22nd separate injury or illness. He has struggled since he arrived at the club, a record that has already caused him to miss 83 games in total.
LAT: United expect ‘groundbreaking’ reaction at Old Trafford after £649m reveal
READ MORE: United board returns
Despite his woeful record of injuries and inconsistent performances on the field, he remains a compelling character. He has a cult following and every coach he has played with has given him opportunities.
His mistakes fear the club as much as he does. Just take a look at the number 9: he rarely parades in a field where the team is desperate enough.
It may not be the most iconic shirt number in football, but it is certainly symbolic, and Martial has rarely looked deserving of it. It was taken away from him when Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined the club and was then adopted by Romelu Lukaku.
Martial felt aggrieved for squandering him after his impressive first campaign and was extremely happy to have him back after Ibrahimovic and Lukaku were transferred while he stayed.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been playing with the number nine on my back,” Martial told TV2. “It’s my favorite number. Now I can play for myself. It’s in the role of striker that I have to prove that I’m the best. “
Traditionalists believe that the number nine deserves to be worn by the club’s most lethal striker. Martial is no longer that and will leave this summer, which could lead to a replacement for Rasmus Hojlund.
The 20-year-old wears this number on the Danish national team shirt and would possibly need to adopt a number that lives up to his fame as number 9. He still wants to improve a lot, despite having scored in successive Premier Leagues. matches, he would possibly believe in his chances of achieving it in the coming weeks.
The value of shirt numbers may be overblown by the media and supporters, but they are an essential component for any player wanting to establish a brand and reputation.
Hojlund can revitalise himself by wearing the number 9 shirt for club and country and would be the leading candidate to update Martial this summer.
By doing so, his current number 11 jersey would also be available. This may simply mean promoting the blouse number for Alejandro Garnacho, to represent his developing stature at the club.
United made a mistake by overtaking him for the No. 7 shirt last summer in favour of Mason Mount, and while that may remain his long-term ambition, there would be a compelling argument for him to stick with the No. 11 shirt.
It is another iconic shirt of United wingers past and present, but comes with slightly less scrutiny than the No. 7 shirt. Garnacho has certainly got the attitude and self-confidence to shine under pressure, but United are still mindful of easing him into the spotlight in order to continue his development.
While that is all speculation, it seems certain that there will be much more change between now and the end of the season. Hojlund and Garnacho now have the platform to prove why they should both be considered for any numbers that become available.
The figure of Martial is on the rise, in more than one tactic.