Louis van Gaal has called on Manchester United supporters to be patient with new signing Anthony Martial.
The Frenchman joined the Red Devils on transfer deadline day earlier in the month in a deal worth a reported £36million fee and that figure could rise to £56million depending on the clauses agreed to with Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco [via BBC Sport].
Many in the media have had their say on the forward who is now the most expensive teenager in the history of the game, with ex-Arsenal star Ray Parlour tipping the player to flop, however Martial has received backing from compatriots Louis Saha and Paul Pogba.
Speaking ahead of United’s huge clash against bitter rivals Liverpool at the weekend, van Gaal says he will give Martial plenty of time to adapt to English football:
“I can imagine that the fans shall think £50million, he has to score! No, he is 19 and he has to adapt. It is very difficult to adapt,” the Dutchman said [via the club’s official website].
“You have seen how Di Maria struggled and he is 27. Falcao was 29. At Manchester United the pressure is much higher than another club, so I don’t think we have to put too much pressure on him.”
“He has to adapt to our culture and our philosophy. Then, maybe he can show signals of his quality in the season,” van Gaal added.
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Martial is expected to be involved against the Merseyside outfit and his arrival will add much-needed pace and power to an United side that has struggled for goals in the Barclays Premier League since the season began.