Graeme Souness singles out Man Utd star who sums up "decade of poor football decisions"

Graeme Souness has claimed that Anthony Martial sums up a “decade of poor football decisions” at Manchester United.

The Red Devils are in the midst of a poor second season under Erik ten Hag. United have already lost 10 games in all competitions this term, leaving their top four spot and place in the Champions League in real jeopardy.

French forward Martial is among a number of players who have struggled for form this season. He has scored just two goals in 18 outings in all competitions, with his struggles coming after a poor loan spell at Sevilla a couple of seasons ago.

Souness reckons that Martial’s underachievement and lack of development since his arrival in 2015 is evidence of the club’s misguided transfer policy. Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "Where Man United are... I'll try without waffling, I think you look no further than Martial for what that club is all about.

"I used to write in The Sunday Times and about four or five years ago I wrote 'This has to be Martial's last chance saloon moment.' They had given him another contract and he didn't deserve one so by mentioning his name, what I mean is they have, for a decade, made consistently poor decisions in the footballing matters.

"The most important thing you have to get right at a football club is your recruitment and then on top of that, who you think you can afford to sell, who's no longer a Man United player, who's not fit or good enough to be a Man United player, who doesn't show the right attitude. These are things... you're playing for Man United, you're playing for that shirt, you're playing for a club that stands for all the good things about football in their past.

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"You've got players who are going through the motions now, now that comes back to the manager. Martial represents, for me, a decade of poor football decisions, the fact he's still at the club.

"And I tell you what happens with the likes of Martial, you watch him in training one day and go: 'Bloody hell he's a player, there's a real player in there.' But how many chances does he need to prove he's a big-club player, his chance went five years ago, he shouldn't be there, and he is just one of several major football decisions they've got wrong."

Martial’s position at Old Trafford was called into question severely at the weekend after the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. He was pictured in a verbal altercation with manager Ten Hag - something that the Dutchman has since played down.

Martial arrived at Man United in 2015 in a big-money move from French side Monaco. He enjoyed an excellent first season with 17 goals but has been unable to continue that form.

The 28-year-old has 90 goals in 316 appearances for the Red Devils. His contract with the club runs until next summer.

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