Monaco was reluctant to sell Anthony Martial to Manchester United but they didn't want to alienate him by denying his dream.

"If I was hesitant to sell Martial? Yes, because I imagined that the 2015-16 season would be his,” club vice president Vadim Vasilyev said in an interview with JDD.

"That's why we had extended his contract in July. Other transfers were more or less expected, not that one.

"There was the money, but also the fact that Anthony had said, 'Mr. Vasilyev this is my childhood dream'.

"If we kill this dream, you can also lose the boy for several months. He sent me his first autographed jersey and thanked me for giving him this chance."