Martial: I knew I wanted to join Sevilla after talking to Lopetegui, Monchi

Sevilla, Spain, Jan 26 (EFE).- Sevilla’s new loan signing, French forward Anthony Martial, said Wednesday that he knew he wanted to join the Spanish team after speaking to the club’s sporting director Ramón Rodríguez ‘Monchi’ and coach Julen Lopetegui.

Martial struggled to find a place in the first team at Manchester United this season following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and the turnover of managers at Old Trafford that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked and replaced by interim head coach Ralf Rangnick.

During his presentation to the media, Martial said he was looking forward to helping the team challenge Real Madrid for the league title.

“I know Lucas (Ocampos) and Jules (Koundé) very well, and I hope to be able to help them,” the 26-year-old said.

“They will welcome me very well, I am joining one of Spain’s biggest clubs and my challenge is to help them achieve our goals for the rest of the season.”

He said he has been “training a lot” but after not featuring much for United in recent weeks, he opted to join “a big club” to help the Andalusian club in the second half of the season.

“Sevilla and I have known each other for a while. They wanted me to join before, and this time when they called we understood that it suited everyone,” Martial said.

“We are second in the table, we’re in a good position. Other big clubs will be fighting for the same thing but we have to stay consistent,” he added.

The forward, who can play anywhere across the front line, said that regardless of the position he is asked to play, the most important thing is “to be able to help and give my all, to bring experience and to help the team continue winning”, both in the domestic league and in “the other big goal, the Europa League,” a trophy he missed out on after losing in the final last season with United against Villarreal.

Martial will be hoping that he will be able to play his way back into the French international squad as it prepares to defend its World Cup title in Qatar this year.

Sevilla have signed Martial on loan until the end of the season after agreeing to pay his wages in full, but the Spanish club will not pay Manchester United a loan fee nor have they agreed on an option to buy at the end of the loan period. EFE

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