Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly lost patience with Anthony Martial, with the Frenchman failing to impress him in showdown talks.
The 21-year-old has had a bitterly disappointing campaign this year, scoring just six goals in 22 appearances in all competitions as he has struggled to stay in Mourinho’s starting line-up.
Further, when compared to his impact in his first season at Old Trafford last year, it makes it all the more frustrating for United to see him fall short of those expectations that he set.
According to The Sun though, he may not be around much longer to turn things around as it’s reported that Martial met with Mourinho this week, but the Portuguese tactician is said to have been let down by the £36m’s signing responses as they looked to solve his problems.
This isn’t the first time that a breakdown in the Mourinho-Martial relationship has been reported, and the former has publicly criticised him this season too.
In complete contrast, the former Chelsea boss was full of praise for Marcus Rashford, as noted in the report, and the England international looks set for an extended spell on the left flank as United look to continue their good form and apply pressure on their rivals to finish in the top four.
Martial scored 20 goals and provided 16 assists in 63 appearances last season, but with Louis van Gaal out and Mourinho in, he hasn’t been able to follow that up this year and it looks as though it might not only cost him his place in the starting line-up, but also his position at the club.
With such fierce competition for places, he can ill-afford to miss any opportunities he gets between now and the end of the season, but based on the on-going rhetoric coming out of Old Trafford with regards to Mourinho’s views on him, it doesn’t sound particularly promising.