United’s Martial triggers multimillion pound payout

Manchester: Jose Mourinho may consider it a small price to pay in the circumstances but Anthony Martial’s crucial goal against Newcastle came at a cost of more than £8.7 million (Dh42.14 million) to Manchester United.

The France forward’s 76th-minute equaliser at Old Trafford on Saturday was his 25th Premier League goal for the club and triggered a clause in his contract entitling former club Monaco to a 10 million euro (Dh42.14 million) windfall. United paid an initial pounds 36 million in September 2015 but the cost of the transfer has now risen to what is expected to be a final fee of 44.73 million pounds. The French club had a longer wait than they might have expected, though, since Martial had been stuck on 24 league goals since January 20.

Monaco were due two further payments of 8.73 million pounds each if Martial played 25 games for France and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or before the end of the current season. Yet with Martial not among the Ballon d’Or nominees and out of favour for France, for whom he has 18 caps, neither clause will be met.

After Martial drew United level, Alexis Sanchez’s 90th-minute goal secured a dramatic 3-2 victory and alleviated some pressure on the embattled Mourinho.

— The Telegraph Group Ltd, London