Manchester United spent £36million on Anthony Martial but supporters are forgiven if they do not know much about the 19-year-old France starlet from Monaco.
Martial prefers to stay in, enjoys home-cooked meals by his mum, is a television addict and likes to relax with his family following training sessions and matches.
The striker is married to childhood sweetheart Samantha and the couple have an infant daughter named Toto. They are currently expecting their second child.
Martial’s transfer fee, which could rise to £58m with bonuses that include him being named European Footballer of the Year, made him the most expensive teenager in history.
Mrs Martial posted a pictured of her husband with a Manchester United shirt on Instagram, saying: ‘A new life begins in England … we will never forget Monaco … thank you all for your support.’
She has already been making WAG connections in England, within hours of flying to the UK.
Mrs Martial was told to ‘step on it’ by Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout’s partner on Instagram.
The United star’s wife replied saying she had already arrived and posted a laughing emoji, along with two umbrellas.
‘Yes, especially don’t forget your umbrella,’ Veretout’s girlfriend responded.
Martial’s lifestyle, however, is at odds with his new-found fame. ‘After training, I like to come home and find my wife. I am very homely,’ he previously told France Football.
The Paris-born starlet has been dubbed the new Thierry Henry but, just like any other teenager, has a love for video games, including FIFA, and TV shows such as Dexter.
His pre-match rituals include listening to music and, as a Catholic, praying.
Following a game he texts his wife Samantha immediately who, during their time in Monaco, enjoyed going on undisturbed walks. ‘We can walk quietly, you are not bothered much,’ Martial said.
After joining arguably the world’s most famous club in football, that will probably change.
But a source close to Martial told The Sun: ‘Anthony now carries the glamorous title of being the most expensive teenager in world football, but his life is just the opposite.
‘He loves staying in and being with his family. It doesn’t look like he’ll be raising hell once he moves to Manchester.’
His idol as a youngster was Sonny Anderson ‒the Brazil striker who scored 71 goals in 110 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon between 1999 and 2003.
‘My first jersey was that of Sonny Anderson,’ Martial says. ‘When I was little, I was a fan of Lyon.’ His love of Brazilian football doesn’t stop there, as he adds: ‘I liked Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.’
In a tweet in March last year, he praised Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs who helped the English side overcome Olympiakos in the Champions League last 16. He said: ‘Giggs is 40 years old. Respect.’
The Welshman will now be coaching Martial, as he assistant manager at Old Trafford.
Martial made three appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon and 49 for Monaco, scoring 11 goals.
His fee has been met with astonishment in France but Louis van Gaal recognises something in the starlet who was recently called up by his national team. Time will tell if it was money well spent.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
