Diogo Dalot has suggested that Anthony Martial could’ve been the best player in the world had he wanted to reach such levels despite the Manchester United forward’s inconsistent spell at Old Trafford
Diogo Dalot claimed that former Manchester United team-mate Anthony Martial “could’ve been the best player in the world if he wanted” despite his mixed spell at Old Trafford.
The Frenchman spent nine years at the Premier League giants, signing as the most expensive teenager in history when Louis van Gaal was at the helm. He had some stellar moments, including a debut goal against Liverpool.
Equally he endured lengthy periods whereby he struggled for form and goals eluded him. On only one occasion did he surpass the 20-goal barrier but Dalot, who often found himself opposing Martial in training, believes he could’ve been one of the world’s best.
He made the comments, which stunned Rio Ferdinand, when asked to provide his dream 5-a-side team, which featured Martial in attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese defender said: “It would be Chris (Ronaldo). And I’m going to put one more up front. I’m going to say Martial.” Ferdinand responded: “Martial? I did not expect that. I know he’s got huge talent, but I didn’t… why Martial?”
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Dalot then explained: “I’m going to say it because I’m going to combine what, obviously, he could do in games, but in training. And I played a lot against him, so it was really, really tough to play. And he was one of those that, if he had obviously a bit more consistency, sometimes he would disconnect a little bit from everything. But if he wanted, he could be the best player in the world. Easily.
He added: ‘”In training, he could do things that you’d say you had to stop training. You know, those moments where you say… you want to blow the whistle and say, “Okay, let’s go inside.” And I had a few. I remember Juan Mata also had those things of quality.”
Ferdinand revealed that United’s interim boss Michael Carrick waxed lyrical about Martial when he signed. He said: “You know, Carrick said to me when he first signed that Martial could win the Ballon d’Or.”
The Frenchman’s struggles did see him loaned out to Sevilla, where his difficulties in front of goal continued. He left United in 2024 once his deal expired and moved to Greece with AEK Athens, but he would only last a year before moving onto join Mexican outfit Monterrey.
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