Martial reveals how Jose Mourinho disrespected him at Manchester United

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has opened up on how he was disrespected by former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

Martial was signed by Louis van Gaal as a big money signing, even though he was a teenager at the time.

The Frenchman was assigned the No.9 shirt – but it took a different turn as Van Gaal was replaced 12 months later, with Jose Mourinho announced as the new Manchester United manager.

Mourinho signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic immediately afterwards, and then handed the No.9 jersey to the veteran striker – a move that Martial didn’t take too well, as Jose did it without his permission.

“It started with the story of the shirt number,” Martial told France Football down the line. During the holidays, he [Mourinho] sends me a message to ask me if I want to take No.11 and he explained to me that it’s great because it was worn by the legend Ryan Giggs.”

Martial added: “I tell him that I have the greatest respect for Giggs, but that I prefer to keep my No.9. When I return to the club, I see my jersey with the No.11. The story did not start well! He disrespected me, straight up.”

Martial believes that Mourinho’s antics made him miss the 2018 World Cup squad.

“He [Mourinho] was talking about me in the press,” added Martial.

“He likes these games, but he also knows who he’s doing it with. He knows that I’m 20-years-old then and that if I say something, it’s I who will the young person who lacks respect. The second season [at United], I was the team’s top-scorer in the first part of the season, he brought in Alexis Sanchez and I hardly played anymore.

“It cost me dearly [with France]. I should have been there [the 2018 World Cup].”

Martial wore No.11 for three years, after Romelu Lukaku took over the No.9 from Ibrahimovic.

Jose Mourinho was eventually sacked and replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – and the Norwegian re-assigned No.9 to Martial, which he wears till date.