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What They Said: LVG on “ridiculous’ money spent on striker, Wenger almost joined Real Madrid

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that the projected £58.8m paid by the club to sign Anthony Martial was ‘ridiculous’, but says the French striker is a player for the future.

According to reports from The Times, Martial is expected to his make his United debut against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Van Gaal acknowledged that the fee paid to Monaco to sign the 19-year-old was a “ridiculous amount of money” and reflective of the “crazy world we are in”.

The Dutchman is frustrated that critics are only focusing on the money they’ve spent (which he thinks United are routinely quoted £10m more for a player than other clubs) but largely ignore what has been recouped through player sales.