ANTHONY MARTIAL has left Manchester United after nine years with the club.
The Frenchman, 28, confirmed his departure with an emotional Instagram video and caption.
He signed for the club from Monaco in 2015 in an initial £36million deal.
With add-ons, that fee eventually rose to £44m.
His initial contract with the club was extended in January 2019, under the watch of then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
That saw him earn a contract of £200k-a-week until this summer, and contained in it the option to extend by another year.
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United have opted to not take up that option or renegotiate on reduced terms.
It’s understood that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is willing to allow several high earners to leave Old Trafford as he looks to make space for the club within PSR constraints.
The club also had the option to extend Raphael Varane’s contract by a year but opted not to exercise that clause.
That’s despite Varane playing for the Red Devils in their FA Cup final triumph last weekend.
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Martial made just 13 Premier League appearances this season, scoring one goal.
His struggles for form and fitness saw him loaned to Sevilla in 2022 as he looked to rediscover the magic that convinced United to sign him from Monaco.
Injuries and struggles for form saw Erik ten Hag leave the forward out of the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup final.
He leaves the club having scored 90 goals in 317 games for United.
The player penned a lengthy statement on his Instagram to thank Red Devils fans for their support.
Martial’s statement in full
Dear Manchester United fans,
It’s with great emotion that I write to you today to say goodbye. After nine incredible years at the club, the time has come for me to turn a new page in my career.
Since I arrived in 2015, I have had the immense honour of wearing this shirt and playing in front of you, the best supporters in the world! You have been an unwavering support, through the good times and the difficult. Your passion and loyalty have been a constant source of motivation for me.
I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done for me. Your songs, your encouragement and your love for the club are memories that will remain engraved in my heart forever.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all my team-mates, technical staff and all the members of the club I have met during my 9 years here. I am proud to have been able to share these experiences with you.
Manchester United will always be in my heart. This club has left its mark on my career and offered me an incredible opportunity to play in front of you. I’m leaving to take on new challenges, I’ll always be a Red Devil and I’ll continue to follow the club’s results with passion.
Thank you again for everything, and see you soon.
With all my affection,
Anthony Martial
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
