Manchester United star Anthony Martial dreaming of Euro 2016 glory with France

ANTHONY MARTIAL’S dream of being a home hero this summer is helping to make him an even bigger success for Manchester United.

Posted Sunday, May 01, 2016 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United star Anthony Martial dreaming of Euro 2016 glory with France
MAGIC MARTIAL: The Frenchman is dreaming of Euro glory on home soil

The France forward was a stunning signing by United at the start of this season.

Despite being virtually unknown in this country, the Old Trafford club paid Monaco an initial £36million – a fee which could eventually reach a Reds’ record £58m.

But Martial, 20, has justified that vast outlay.

He burst on to the scene in September when he scored on his debut in a 3-1 win against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

And his superb late winner against Everton last weekend – his 14th goal of the season – fired United into the FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace later this month.

He now goes into today’s match against title-chasing Leicester with a burning desire to maintain his exciting form.

And Martial believes that would clinch his place in the France squad for this summer’s European Championships in his own country.

The United ace has won eight caps for France in his fledgling international career.

He said: “I really want to take part in the tournament.

"It’s down to me to show what I can do at club level and to keep putting in good performances in order to get into the squad.

"It’s a very important event for the whole country and it’s taking place in France, so I hope we can do something special and we can make the whole country proud.

"I hope I get the call. The Paris terrorist attacks deeply affected us and the entire population.

"Now we want to make our supporters happy by winning the Euros.

"Everything is possible. We will be at home and so we’ll have that extra bit of motivation.

"It’s up to us to show our quality – as we have been doing of late. We will do our best to try to win the trophy.”

Martial underlined the link between club form and the international stage and said: “When I’ve had a good game with United, it means that when I join up with the national team, I go there full of confidence.

"That allows me to put in some good performances at international level. I think it’s very important.”

United boss Louis van Gaal sees Martial as a winger – where he is playing now – who could develop into a central striker. "I don’t think he is a striker – he is more of a wing player,” said the Dutchman.

"But in the future maybe he will play as a striker. He’s a different type of player to, for example, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who played for United and Holland as a centreforward.”

What they both have in common though is talent, goalscoring ability – and the adoration of the Old Trafford crowd.