Anthony Martial's Greatest Manchester United Moments

Manchester United were criticised by many for the hefty sum they paid to land Anthony Martial's services back in 2015.

After all, they did pay an initial £36m, potentially rising to almost £60m with add-ons, to make the Frenchman the world's most expensive teenager at the time. It was a staggering amount for a youngster who only joined Monaco two years prior for just £4.4m.

During Martial's time at United so far, he has divided opinion within the fan base. Is he/will he be the world class forward the club needs? Does he have the right attitude to make it happen? Is he most effective as a winger or a striker? These are just some of the questions fans continue to debate.

But one thing that has always been clear from the moment he stepped through the doors is his talent.

The 24-year-old was made the club's first-choice striker for the 2019/20 season and he has relished the opportunity. Indeed, Martial enjoyed his best goalscoring season, but more broadly, much of the unjustified criticism he used to receive has now vanished into thin air due to his stellar displays. Martial has matured and developed into a leading figure in this Man Utd team, with his overall game having improved drastically.

Here we take a look at Martial's best moments so far...

1. Stunning Debut Goal vs. Liverpool (September 2015)

'Ooooohhhhhh yessssss! Welcome to Manchester United, Anthony Martial!'

Where else would we dare even start than with Martin Tyler's now famous reaction to Martial's first goal to announce himself at Old Trafford, eh?

It was beautiful. It was unthinkable. It was the stuff of dreams for Martial at the Theatre of Dreams. The run and finish were simply world class and would have had fans jumping with joy in any match, but it was even more special as it came against arch rivals Liverpool.

Simply stunning.

2. Winner vs. Everton in FA Cup Semi-Final (April 2016)

With the score level at 1-1 in the semi-final of the FA Cup, United were in need of a star player to step up and produce a moment of real quality.

Martial was that man.

With seconds remaining, the Frenchman showed intelligence and awareness to play a one-two before darting infield into space. Continuing to slice through the heart of the tiring Everton defence, he played a give-and-go with Ander Herrera this time, eventually latching onto the ball and finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper at the edge of the box.

Yes, it may have been the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but Martial made the finish look so easy. Calm and composed, he simply tucked it into the bottom corner before sprinting off in celebration.

Coolness personified.

3. Run & Finish vs. Burnley (April 2017)

Martial is renowned for his skill, composure and close ball control. But his goal against Burnley highlighted just how complete he is as a forward.

Doing his defensive duties, he picked up the ball near his own box before cooly flicking it past his opponent and looking to drive forward with pace. With every stride he took, he was being pulled back as the defender looked to bring him down to stop the counter-attack.

But he showed the strength and speed to fend off the challenge and charge towards the Burnley goal. Despite running at full pace, he showed the awareness to play the ball out wide before receiving it back and cooly slotting home.

4. Fulham 0-3 Man Utd (February 2019)

If you give Martial space, he will punish you. And Fulham found this out the hard way back in February 2019.

As the ball was turned over, Martial was free to drive towards the hosts' goal with Denis Odoi out of position. Odoi quickly got back to support Calum Chambers, with both players getting tight to Martial to stop him in his tracks.

But the forward simply showed the ball to Chambers to entice him in before quickly flicking it away to send himself through on goal. From there, there was only ever going to be one outcome.

The finish is often overlooked, but his ability to find the bottom corner despite moving at full speed and fending off a challenge was outstanding.

5. Stunning Solo Strike in Europa League (November 2019)

Partizan Belgrade made the mistake of giving the ball to Martial near their own box - and within seconds, the ball was in the back of their own net.

Gliding towards goal, he had already assessed his options and had identified where each defender was. As a defender came flying in with a sliding challenge, Martial left him for dead as he quickly shifted it past him.

But it was the second touch to take the ball away from another defender and create the opportunity for him to finish off the move that was most impressive. After creating the opening, he rounded it off in style.

Three Partizan players fell to the floor as the ball rolled in. Sure, it was a mistake to give the ball away, but there was simply nothing they could do to stop him when he had it at his feet.

6. Chip vs. Watford (February 2020)

We all know Martial is capable of the sublime, but his cheeky goal against Watford in February highlighted his confidence as the leading striker at the club.

After his first effort was blocked by Ben Foster, Martial went to retrieve the ball but was forced out wide. With two Watford defenders closing in as well as Foster tracking him, it appeared as though the Frenchman would be dispossessed and that the danger would be easily snuffed out.

However, his sublime touch saw him pluck the ball out of the sky before then producing a majestic piece of skill to create half a yard of space for himself. Recognising that Foster was off his line, he cheekily lifted the ball over his head and into the net from an acute angle.

It was a true number nine's finish.

7. First Hat-Trick vs. Sheffield United (June 2020)

Martial's first hat-trick in senior football, and all three goals epitomised everything exceptional about the Frenchman.

The first saw Marcus Rashford fire the ball across at him, but he produced a world class touch to deftly flick the ball home - making it look so simple in the process.

Martial grabbed his second of the game as he showed his ruthlessness to find space inside the box and cooly turn in Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross. The first two goals were made to look easy and he rounded off his hat-trick in typical Martial fashion - with style.

When faced one-on-one, he dinked the ball over the goalkeeper and strolled off to celebrate a perfect day's work.

8. 50th Premier League Goal vs Southampton (July 2020)

When Martial receives the ball out on the left, most defenders (you would suspect) would know exactly what is going through the United man's mind - cut inside and get a shot off.

But it's one thing to know what he's going to do, and another to stop him entirely.

His close ball control allows him to manipulate defenders into moving a certain direction before quickly shifting it and creating space for himself on his favoured right foot. When entering these positions, Martial normally looks to curl the ball into the far corner.

But one aspect of his game that often goes largely unnoticed is his footballing intelligence.

Cutting infield, he rifled in at the near post past Alex McCarthy. The goalkeeper simply had no chance, even if it was on his side.

For more from Adam Aladay, follow him on Twitter!