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Wayne Rooney asked me who Martial was, says Schneiderlin

By Wires
Sports News Wayne Rooney asked me who Martial was, says Schneiderlin
SEP 1, 2015 LISTEN

Wayne Rooney asked French teammate Morgan Schneiderlin for the lowdown on 19-year-old Anthony Martial, who looks set to join Manchester United from Lyon, for a £36 million fee.

Martial, who will become the world's most expensive teenager, will sign a long-term contract at Old Trafford today. But United captain Rooney had no idea who the Lyon star was, according to new summer signing Schneiderlin.

Martial, who has played less than 50 Ligue 1 matches, was granted leave by France national team boss Didier Deschamps on Monday to fly to England and finalise a deal reported to be worth up to €80m for the French club.

"To be honest, yesterday [Sunday] on the plane, Wayne Rooney came to speak to me and asked me who Martial was, because the English press had started to speak," Schneiderlin told reporters at France's training base at Clairefontaine.

"I told him he's a great player with great potential, who has played some good matches with Monaco last season and the the beginning of this.

"I told him he is technical and powerful. A little like Therry Henry, even if it's the press who are making that comparison."

Schneiderlin is determined that Martial will not be weighed down by his hefty price-tag upon arrival in Manchester. "The size of the fee? If he wants my advice, it is to ignore it," the former Southampton man added.

"The media will talk a lot and will expect him to score many goals. But he must remember his qualities and play like he knows how. He can't be paralysed by it. I think everything will go well."

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