Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has secretly backed the club’s decision to give Anthony Martial a new contract, according to Daily Mirror, UK.
The Portuguese was open to selling Martial this summer as he was unhappy with the 22-year-old’s attitude.
He also wanted the club to sign a more experienced attacker who is capable of playing on the flanks.
But the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward vetoed the sale and was adamant that Martial would not be allowed to leave Old Trafford.
United are now in talks to extend Martial’s contract and have offered the forward a new five-year deal.
The France attacker has less than a year remaining on his current deal, although United do have the option to extend his contract until 2020.
Woodward’s decision to award Martial a new contract appears to undermine Mourinho’s authority as United manager.
But Daily Mirror reports that Mourinho is “fully on board” with the decision to extend Martial’s stay at Old Trafford.
Mourinho dropped from United’s matchday squad for the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Monday evening.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss openly criticised the players performances last season.
Mourinho also fined the 22-year-old around £180,000 in the summer after he left United’s pre-season tour to attend the birth of his son in Paris and was away from the squad for nine days.
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