Manchester United signed Anthony Martial for £36m from Monaco
Forward's move makes him the world's most expensive teenager
19-year-old's style has been compared to France legend Thierry Henry
Henry believes his heir apparent is inexperienced and has a lot to learn
By Luke Augustus for MailOnline
Anthony Martial has a bright future but his signing is a 'massive gamble' by Manchester United, believes Thierry Henry.
The 19-year-old completed a £36million deadline day move to Old Trafford from Monaco on Tuesday as United boss Louis van Gaal looked to bolster his striking options.
The teenager is one of the most exciting young talents in Europe and has been compared to Henry due to his searing pace and an eye for goal.
But Henry, who began his career at Monaco, feels his French compatriot isn't the answer to the Red Devils' need for a goalscorer - especially for the price they paid for him.
Despite Martial having netted scored 12 goals in 48 appearances for Monaco last season, Henry feels he still has a lot to learn to reach the very top.
'[Martial] has pace, can he score a lot of goals?' the Sky Sports pundit said. 'I actually don't know because he's only played 52 games. It's a weird one for me to say. It's a massive gamble that you need to take nowadays because of the situation Man United have.'
'We saw him at the Emirates last season playing with Monaco and causing trouble to the Arsenal defence, he has a bright future,' he added. 'But there's always a question mark, whether he can perform.
ANTHONY MARTIAL FACTFILE
- Date of birth: December 5, 1995 (aged 19)
- Place of birth: Massy, France
- Club career:
- Lyon (2012-13): 4 games, 0 goals
- Monaco (2013-): 60 games, 13 goals
- Total: 64 games, 13 goals
'[Martial] played at the weekend against Paris Saint-Germain and he can play in the middle. Is it going to take him a bit of time to adjust and understand what the job requires? Yes, because he only played 52 professional games. It [the fee] is mind-blowing.'
Now the world's most expensive teenager, Martial's burgeoning career to date has seen him feature in just 64 matches - casting another doubt in Henry's mind due to his relative inexperience.
'You have a lot of boxes that you can't tick with him because I repeat he has only played 52 games,' he added. 'You are not the same player you are after 100 or 150 games from the 50 that you start with - especially as a centre forward.
'You need games, experience and time out there to perform. I wish him all the best and think he can do well.'
