Share

I'm no Henry, says United's Martial

Cape Town - Manchester United's deadline day signing Anthony Martial has played down comparisons with Arsenal's record goalscorer Thierry Henry.

Henry had an extremely successful career during his time in England, having won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup thrice with the Gunners. He won the Golden Boot award four times, the most in league history.

Henry also leads the all time scoring charts for France with 51 goals and is second in the list of most capped players for his country with 123 caps.

The 19-year-old Martial recently made his debut for France, and has made a stunning start in England, having scored three goals in four league appearance.

The main comparisons made were down to their style of play, as Martial likes to run behind defenders and his ability to calmly score from one-on-ones, something of a trademark for Henry during his playing days.

"I know this is a very great player who is a legend in England. I do not think we have the same characteristics," Martial told French TV channel BFM.

"Thierry Henry is Thierry Henry. I still have everything to prove. By continuing to work, I will try to reach his level but I am still very far off."

Martial spoke of his move to United and said the prospect of Champions League football played a key role in his decision.

"Basically, I was told 'untransferable' so I thought staying in Monaco," Martial said.

"When I knew about the offer, I did not hesitate a second and it was done quickly. I really wanted to continue to play in the Champions League.

"(Louis) Van Gaal called me and spoke to my mother who did the translation. When I arrived in Manchester I met him, we discussed at length and it was done quickly," he added.

Martial joined United for a reported £36 million, making him the most expensive teenager in football history, but the forward says the price tag doesn't add any extra pressure as he just concentrates on football.

"It did not bother me too much. I try to ignore it all. I stay in my bubble, I concentrate on the football, I work and I try to learn English as quickly as possible," Martial said.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1774 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1082 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 459 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE