Thursday 3 September 2015 15:45, UK
Anthony Martial's transfer fee has put huge pressure on him at Manchester United, says Paul Merson.
Martial became the most expensive teenager in football history after his £36m Deadline Day move from Monaco – and his former club's vice-president Vadim Vasilyev says that figure could rise to £58m.
Merson believes the 19-year-old – who could make his debut against Liverpool on Sky Sports on September 12 - must hit the ground running to be a success at Old Trafford.
"That's a lot of money for someone who has been playing in Monaco in front of 5,000-6,000 people every week, on top of a car park," said Merson.
"Then you have to go and play in front of 70,000 people as the most expensive teenager of all time. That's a lot of pressure on the lad.
"When you go and play for Manchester United you have to start well. If like, off the top of my head, Anderson, you have a couple of bad games, you never get it back. This lad has to start very, very well.
"I feel for him. It should have been an undisclosed fee. It's put too much pressure on the lad, and I'll be very interested to see how he handles it."
Merson also pointed out Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was never linked with a move for Martial, despite regularly mining Ligue 1 for young talent.
"Arsene Wenger knows that scene very well. I think he knows that scene better than anybody in world football. And he never went for him," said Merson.
"I don't know if he didn't go for him because he thought it was a lot of money but I'd be interested to see what Arsene Wenger thought of this lad.
"His knowledge of French football is second to none and he would know Martial inside out."
