Anthony Martial's agent slams Arsene Wenger after he passed up chance to sign Manchester United striker

The 19-year-old Frenchman took his goal tally to four goals in four matches on Wednesday night but Wenger claimed he was a winger

Anthony Martial's agent has hit out at Arsene Wenger for claiming he passed up on the Manchester United marksman because he saw him as a winger.

Philippe Lamboley, the 19-year-old’s representative, said of the Arsenal boss: “In football, there are those who follow players and those who buy them.”

Martial has shrugged off his £36million price tag, which could rise to a record £58million, with four goals in his first for games under Louis van Gaal.

His composure in front of goal has helped United to League wins over Liverpool and Southampton and into the 4th round of the Capital One Cup.

Wenger has previously claimed to have known all about Martial having followed him from a young age, but decided not to sign him before his move to Monaco or to United because he saw him as a winger and not a striker

But Lamboley said: “Anthony is a true modern centre-forward who can play a part,”

He added: “‘I am surprised by the analysis of Arsene Wenger, who has apparently been following him since he was a teenager.

“If the analysis Arsene Wenger has made is in order to justify not having signed Anthony, I accept he is a winger.

“But in football, there are those who follow players and those who buy them.”