Dalot's Stunning Claim on Martial's Unfulfilled Potential
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has made the remarkable assertion that his former teammate Anthony Martial could have been the best footballer in the world if he had possessed the desire and consistency to reach such elite levels. This bold statement comes despite the French forward's notoriously inconsistent and often underwhelming nine-year tenure at Old Trafford.
A Career of Highs and Lows at United
Anthony Martial arrived at Manchester United in 2015 as the most expensive teenager in football history, signed by then-manager Louis van Gaal. He made an instant impact, scoring a memorable debut goal against arch-rivals Liverpool. However, his time at the club was defined by fluctuating form, with only a single season where he managed to surpass the 20-goal mark.
Dalot, who frequently faced Martial in training sessions, revealed his high opinion during a discussion about his dream five-a-side team. He selected Martial to partner Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, a choice that visibly surprised United legend Rio Ferdinand.
The Training Ground Revelation
"Martial? I did not expect that. I know he's got huge talent, but I didn't... why Martial?" Ferdinand questioned. Dalot's response was emphatic, drawing directly from their competitive training encounters.
"I'm going to say it because I'm going to combine what, obviously, he could do in games, but in training," Dalot explained. "And I played a lot against him, so it was really, really tough to play. And he was one of those that, if he had obviously a bit more consistency, sometimes he would disconnect a little bit from everything. But if he wanted, he could be the best player in the world. Easily."
Dalot elaborated further, recalling moments of sheer brilliance that would halt training. "In training, he could do things that you'd say you had to stop training. You know, those moments where you say... you want to blow the whistle and say, 'Okay, let's go inside.' And I had a few. I remember Juan Mata also had those things of quality."
Echoes of Early Promise
Ferdinand corroborated the sentiment of unfulfilled potential, revealing that former United midfielder and interim manager Michael Carrick had once shared a similarly lofty prediction. "You know, Carrick said to me when he first signed that Martial could win the Ballon d'Or," Ferdinand disclosed.
Despite this early promise, Martial's career trajectory failed to match such expectations. His struggles for form and goals led to a loan spell at Sevilla in 2022, where his scoring difficulties persisted. He departed Manchester United upon the expiration of his contract in 2024, embarking on a brief stint with AEK Athens in Greece before joining Mexican club Monterrey in 2025.
Dalot's candid assessment provides a fascinating insight into the dichotomy between Martial's perceived world-class talent on the training ground and his inconsistent output in competitive matches, painting a picture of a player whose career might have scaled the very heights of the sport.
