Rival team outbid Manchester United in Martial chase

Manchester United were outbid by another club when they signed Anthony Martial, according to Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev.

Martial completed his move to United on deadline day and has since made a big impression scoring four goals in nine appearances, but had the deal been solely down to to money then Martial could have gone elsewhere.

The 19-year-old, who scored a stunning goal on his debut against Liverpool before netting a brace against Southampton and another in the Capital One Cup win over Ipswich, was so desperate to fulfill his "dream" switch to Old Trafford that Monaco passed up the other offer on the table.

The Red Devils paid £36million up front for the France forward, with add-ons meaning the fee could rise up to £58million. But Vasilyev says Monaco received a higher offer from another club, who were willing to loan Martial back to the Ligue 1 side for the rest of the season.

"There was another club that offered even more than United," he told Marca. "I will not say how much, but the fixed price, without variables, it was even better. And also they offered us to have him for a further year in Monaco.

"But the boy wanted to go to Manchester, it was his dream. And we let him go with the bonus of 30million euros. Had it not been for so much money, he'd have stayed."