Monaco, Sep 5 (IANS) French football club As Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev believes English outfit Manchester United could have signed Barcelona strikers Luis Suarez or Neymar for the fee they paid for its teenage attacker Anthony Martial.
Louis van Gaal splashed out 36 million pounds on the 19-year-old forward but the figure could rise as high as 58 million pounds if Martial achieves a number of criteria included in the deal.
“It’s true that the price for Martial is 58 million pounds but take into account this sum includes bonuses which are very realistic,” Vasilyev was quoted as saying by dailymail.co.uk on Saturday.
“It’s absolutely unique. It’s the price of Luis Suarez or Neymar — the best players in the world,” he added, referring to the Uruguayan and the Brazilian, who form European champions Barcelona’s attacking trinity, alongside Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
Vasilyev said considering the financial might of United, Monaco didn’t take many thinking to agree to the deal.
“On Sunday the player got such an offer that he couldn’t have declined. He asked us to find a solution and on Monday morning Manchester United made an offer to Monaco which the club couldn’t refuse.
“Right now English football is on a different financial level and if Manchester United decides to buy somebody, it’s very hard to stop them.”
Martial is currently with the French national squad ahead of their friendlies against Portugal and Serbia, where he could make his debut on the international stage.
His first game as a United player could be against Liverpool on September 12.