Anthony Martial told to ask himself if has the 'desire' to keep playing as ex-Man Utd forward remains without a club

Martial has had a rapid fall from grace. Once tipped to be a superstar, he is now 28 years old and is without a club and any real suitors. It is an unfortunate situation for a man who spent nine years in Manchester. The Frenchman's desire has now been questioned by former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

Petit said on talkSPORT: "I can't remember the last time he was a proper footballer on the pitch, producing good performances. Maybe he should ask himself this question, does he have the desire to keep on going with his career? Because I have the feeling that the last few years was very difficult for him on and off the pitch.

"It's quite difficult to get a good mind coming in every morning at the training ground and try to give your best all the time because you have a problem in your life, you have a problem in the dressing room, you have problems everywhere. So, if I was Anthony Martial, I would ask myself the question in the mirror. Do I still want to be a professional footballer?"

The former France midfielder's words may seem harsh but the fact that Martial has been linked with AEK Athens and Flamengo showcases the status of clubs interested in for him. Despite the underwhelming career in Manchester, he showed glimpses of promise and talent, including his 17-goal season in the Premier League in 2019-20.

Wage demands have caused issues in Martial's pursuit of a new club. If the Frenchman is willing to decrease his salary then it is likely that he will have a quicker return to football, but again it all comes down to what Martial is looking for in the next stage of his career.