Manchester United Transfer Deal For Anthony Martial With AS Monaco Leaked
Manchester United reportedly paid AS Monaco $54.5 million (€50 million) for Anthony Martial in September, but there’s something more in the deal we now know, courtesy of the website Football Leaks.
Football Leaks, a website that was started in September, has revealed astonishing figures of confidential soccer contracts all around Europe. In an interview with the New York Times in December, one of the official representatives behind the website said,”secrecy about contracts and secret clauses is killing this sport,” and also showed his determination to bring what’s behind the shadow to limelight.
The full details of Anthony Martial’s transfer form Monaco has seemingly been leaked according to @Le_Scan_Sport pic.twitter.com/n8MicbefQp
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) January 18, 2016
There is nothing surprisingly new in the transfer agreement between Manchester United and AS Monaco for Martial – except that the transfer document is now public. It also confirms that the English giants paid an absolutely huge amount of money for the teenage sensation to bring him to Old Trafford.
Manchester United are also liable to pay Monaco a lot of potential bonuses if Martial performs well and rises to prominence. The contract reveals that the Red Devils side will have to pay €10 million each if, while under contract, Martial scores 25 goals for Manchester United, makes 25 appearances for the French national team, or is nominated for the Ballon d’Or award.
Manchester United should have no worries with the first term in the contract after the striker suffered an injury during the first half of the season, but is likely to play a huge part for the French national team in the Euro 2016, after Karim Benzema’s involvement in the sex tape scandal.
While it is also unlikely that Martial will get close even to the top three to win a Ballon d’Or with the likes of stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Luis Suarez, notice that the player only needs to be a nominee to trigger the bonus payment. The Ballon d’Or nominee list includes 23 players, and with a decent performance in the league for Manchester United, he should have no problem in being nominated.
Martial has scored eight goals in 26 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United this season and has been an important part of the club’s anemic attack.
Another deal that’s included in the contract is that if Manchester United see Martial moving out of Old Trafford for over £60m in the future, the club will have to pay 50 percent of any capital gains to his former Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
Though just in his 20s, Martial has been playing good football for Manchester United in the Premier League and has a lot of time to improve. But he needs to make a lot of improvements to his current form to become the fifth most expensive transfer of all time and join the likes of Luis Suarez, who moved to Barcelona from Liverpool, Angel di Maria who moved to Manchester United from Real Madrid, and James Rodriguez who went to Real Madrid from Monaco.
Manchester Unite’d manager Louis van Gaal has also praised the French international and likened him to Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert. Kluivert played under the Dutch manager at Ajax, Barcelona, and for the country while he also enjoyed a short spell for Newcastle United in the Premier League.
LVG, before heading into the match for Manchester United against Liverpool at Anfield said: “I compare him with Patrick.”
I remember Kluivert playing in a final when he was only 18 and scoring a goal. He has a similar body physically and also plays as a striker but can also play in different positions.
“It really is amazing that Martial has played in virtually every match for us,” the manager added.
Martial played an important part in Manchester United’s 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield last week and celebrated it with his fans on social media.
This win is for you! Thanks for all your fantastic support @ManUtd#MUFCpic.twitter.com/TLb46y4TRS
— Anthony Martial (@AnthonyMartial) January 17, 2016
Manchester United currently lie fifth in the Premier League table with 37 points after 22 matches.
[Photo by Alex Livesey/ Getty Images]