Rangnick Says Martial Keen to Leave Man Utd but No Offers Yet

Anthony Martial. (Getty Images)
Anthony Martial. (Getty Images)
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Rangnick Says Martial Keen to Leave Man Utd but No Offers Yet

Anthony Martial. (Getty Images)
Anthony Martial. (Getty Images)

Anthony Martial has asked to leave Manchester United but there have been no offers for the French forward and the club may need to hold onto him if the squad is hit by injuries or more COVID-19 issues, interim manager Ralf Rangnick said.

The 26-year-old has started only two league games this season and his representative said this month he wanted to secure a move away in January to get more game time.

"We spoke on Wednesday, we spoke at length," Rangnick told British media. "He explained to me he's been at United for seven years and he feels it's the right time for a change, to go somewhere else.

"In a way this is understandable, I could follow his thoughts but on the other hand, it's also important to see the situation of the club. We have COVID times, we have three competitions in which we still have high ambitions.

"I told him as long as there's no club showing interest in him, and it shouldn't only be in the interest of the player it should also be in the interest of the club. So far... there's been no offer ... and as long as this is the case he'll stay."

Rangnick also said French midfielder Paul Pogba would require another two weeks to regain fitness following his return from Dubai, where he was nursing a thigh injury.

United take on Newcastle United later on Monday.



Bayern Rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund Drop Points in Bundesliga

Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck gestures after losing the German Bundesliga soccer match between Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund, in Berlin, Germany, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck gestures after losing the German Bundesliga soccer match between Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund, in Berlin, Germany, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
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Bayern Rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund Drop Points in Bundesliga

Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck gestures after losing the German Bundesliga soccer match between Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund, in Berlin, Germany, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck gestures after losing the German Bundesliga soccer match between Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund, in Berlin, Germany, 05 October 2024. (EPA)

Bayern Munich won without playing on Saturday as Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund dropped points to modest opponents.

Dortmund slumped at Union Berlin to a 2-1 defeat without injured forward Karim Adeyemi, who starred in the team’s 7-1 rout of Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Defending champion Leverkusen squandered an early two-goal lead over promoted Holstein Kiel and drew 2-2. It was only Kiel’s second point in its debut top-flight season.

Leverkusen played in a special black jersey with red trim to commemorate the club’s 120th anniversary, and for Xabi Alonso it was also a special occasion – the Spanish coach took over exactly two years before.

Leverkusen fans didn’t have to wait long to celebrate after Victor Boniface opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Jonas Hofmann made it 2-0 four minutes after that. Leverkusen looked set for a rout.

But the home team failed to make more of its dominance — Boniface had another goal ruled out for offside — and Kiel secured a lifeline before the break when Max Geschwil scored after a corner. Fiete Arp scored an unlikely equalizer from the penalty spot in the 69th.

Also, Freiburg won at Werder Bremen 1-0, and Wolfsburg enjoyed a 3-1 win in Wolfsburg.

St. Pauli was playing Mainz later.

League leader Bayern visits second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.