Manchester United might have raised quite a few eyebrows – some of those eyebrows still haven't come down -- after it became evident were paying £36million – with the fee potentially rising to £58m -- to sign 19-year-old Anthony Martial from Monaco, but the teenager is confident he can live up to the hype and handle the pressure that comes with such a high-profile signing.
The paucity of strikers and the inflated nature of the current transfer market were evident yet again in this signing, with Manchester United flexing their considerably spending power-muscles again.
"Anthony is a naturally talented, young, multi-functional forward with great potential," Louis Van Gaal told the club's official website, after Manchester United made Martial the most expensive teenager in world football. "We have been watching him for a while now and he has developed immensely during his time at AS Monaco.
"I am delighted he has joined Manchester United as I believe this is the right club for him to continue his development as a young player.
"He has all the attributes to become a top football player. However we need to give him time to adjust to his new environment and the rhythm of the Premier League."
When you pay £36m on deadline day, or one day before in this case, is there so much leeway to get settled in? And can Manchester United afford to wait and allow Martial to develop, considering they only have Wayne Rooney as a senior striker, having sold Javier Hernandez to Bayer Leverkusen, with Adnan Januzaj, another attacking option, also going to Borussia Dortmund on loan?
All Martial, who will wear the No.9 shirt, which means he is expected to be involved in the first team right from the off, can do is try and get acclimatised to the English Premier League as quickly as possible and then start to live up to that potential which saw Manchester United shell out that kind of money.
"I don't feel the pressure," Martial said. "I know there is pressure but I'm ready for it.
"I'm very happy because it's a big club in England. I'm very proud. I'm very happy because I worked hard for this and my family is very happy about it.
"I spoke with the coach, Louis van Gaal, and I know that I need to work very hard. It's not easy to speak about myself but I am a very fast player. I hope that everything will go well for me at this club.
"I'm very happy because the supporters are great here. I will be ready when the time comes."
