Anthony Martial Defends Decision To Put Family First Ahead Of Man United's Pre-Season Tour

Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial has defended his decision to put family first after irking Jose Mourinho by staying with his partner after she gave birth instead of returning to Manchester United‘s pre-season tour.

The Red Devils’ frustrating tour of the United States ended with a 2-1 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday, when the France international was again conspicuous by his absence.

Martial told Mourinho that he would be leaving for the birth of his second child after starting the first two matches Stateside and his failure to return from Europe afterwards vexed the manager.

The United boss said after the penultimate match of the tour against Liverpool that “he should be here, and he is not here”, then admitted on Tuesday that he did not know when the 22-year-old would be back with the group in Manchester.

Martial broke his silence shortly after the team landed back in the UK to confirm he will be back on Thursday, when there may well be a frosty reception despite the public justification of his absence.

Martial could reportedly be handed a two-week fine of around £180,000 for failing to return to America and Mourinho appeared to aim a thinly-veiled dig at him after beating Real as next Friday’s Premier League opener against Leicester looms large.

“My players, amazing in their effort but we have more effort in front of us,” said Mourinho, who leads United to Bayern Munich on Sunday in their final pre-season friendly.

“Because in a few days we go to Munich and we start the Premier League in nine days.”

(SPORT 360)

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