Arsene Wenger has come in the firing line of Anthony Martial's agent over comments made by the Arsenal boss on the highly-rated French youngster's playing style.
Manchester United shelled out a whopping £36m -- potentially rising to £58m -- to acquire the 19-year-old forward from Monaco this summer, and Martial has been worth every penny so far. He has gone on to become one of the most instrumental players in the Red Devils squad at the moment as he has registered four goals from four games.
The 19-year-old Frenchman's agent, Philippe Lamboley, mentioned that the Gunners boss had eyes on his client for many years, but he did not pursue him because Wenger analysed Martial as a winger, and was doubtful of his abilities to play up front.
And Lamboley feels that was a completely wrong assumption, as the player is a "true modern centre-forward".
"Anthony is a true modern centre-forward who can play a part," Lamboley told French radio station RMC. "'I am surprised by the analysis of Arsene Wenger, who has apparently been following him since he was a teenager.
"I don't agree with him because Anthony scored between 25 and 30 goals a season at Lyon's youth academy while playing as a centre-forward and having never played as a winger.
"When he gets free and leaves the centre, it's actually to speed up and get away from the central defenders.
"If the analysis Arsene Wenger has made is in order to justify not having signed Anthony, I accept he is a winger.
"But in football, there are those who follow players and those who buy them."
It was only earlier this month -- following the end of the summer transfer window -- that Wenger questioned the move by Manchester United to shell out the whopping amount for Martial, but the Arsenal manager did explain that the lack of quality players in the transfer market is forcing big clubs to go for lesser-known players.
And according to British daily The Independent, Wenger had his eyes on Martial, but he stated that the youngster fitted more into the role of wide forward -- just like an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Alexis Sanchez -- who were already present in the club.
"But he [Martial] is more of a winger-type," The Independent reported Wenger as saying.
"He's an exceptional talent I agree with you but I believe that he plays in positions where we have players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez and Joel Campbell who can play in the position."
