Revealed – “I can’t do that…” – Why Martial left Man United training ground after five minutes in a big truck

Anthony Martial’s day at the Manchester United training ground took an unexpected turn. He arrived promptly, just before 9 am, but his visit was surprisingly brief.

Eyewitnesses at Manchester Evening News shared the curious sequence of events. Martial’s arrival at Carrington occurred at precisely 8:56 am, yet he swiftly departed by 9 am on a Thursday morning. The reason behind this swift exit was a simple misunderstanding – he had been misinformed about the training schedule, which was later in the day.

United’s training schedule had undergone a shift. While the players were initially expected to report for training at 12:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday’s session required them to be present at 9 am. However, a mix-up occurred, with United players gradually trickling in around 11:30 am. Martial himself returned to Carrington at 12:23 pm.

Despite starting in the last two games against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal, Martial couldn’t find the back of the net and was substituted in both matches. As a result, the 27-year-old is likely to make room for the new £72 million signing, Rasmus Hojlund, who might make his full debut for United in the upcoming clash against Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Martial has contributed 17 goals for United over the past three years but has struggled to complete a full 90 minutes in a Premier League match since January 2021 when United faced a home defeat to Sheffield United. During the summer, United had considered selling Martial, but his hamstring injury during the final league match of the previous season against Fulham, followed by his absence in pre-season, altered the circumstances.

Martial’s current contract expires next summer, and while United holds the option for an additional year, his future at the club remains uncertain if his performance stagnation persists.