Valencia assistant manager and Manchester United legend Phil Neville has been genuinely impressed with striker Anthony Martial this season.
However, his wonder at the French striker’s prowess began before the player began his career at Old Trafford. Neville and Los Che came up against Martial in the qualification round of the Champions League, and Neville was left in awe of Martial’s quality, which he spoke about to the media recently.
From the very first time I saw him early in the season, when we [Valencia] played Monaco in the Champions League qualifying rounds, he was someone who was devastating against us. Every time he got the ball he made me nervous; he made our defenders nervous because he likes to turn and he likes to dribble.
Though Martial was unable to score in the two-legged playoff and Valencia went through 4-3 on aggregate, he has made quite an impression since his Premier League arrival. He scored on his debut against Liverpool and has scored five goals in all competitions for the Red Devils this season. Neville has been suitably impressed with his Premier League performance as well.
He has brought genuine speed to the team, he is strong and he is quick. People question the amount of money that van Gaal paid but I think United have got an absolute bargain and his style suits the Premier League.
Neville also believes that Martial has only begun making his mark in both English football as well as the world game.
I think there is more to come. He is still young, he still learning and there is more to come from this striker, who I think could become one of the best in the world.
Martial will take part in the French national team’s friendlies against Germany and England during the international break, before returning to Manchester for the team’s next Premier League game where they travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on 21st November.
