Manchester United's backup goalkeeper Sergio Romero has drawn comparisons between five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi and fellow United winger Anthony Martial.
In a long-form article on the clubs' website, written by the keeper himself, Romero shared how not long after he joined United in 2015 he was chatting with David De Gea, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata and shared with them the talents on Martial.
"There's a kid at Monaco. Anthony Martial. For sure, in a short while, you'll all be talking about him," he said.
Romero had first encountered Martial while on loan at Monaco from Sampdoria during the 2013/14 season.
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"Anthony was still very young, but you could already see that he was that he was a special player with lots of class and lots of talent. The kid was a natural. You'd just be amazed at the things he would do in the training sessions."
The discussion of Martial has often centered around how he has heaps of natural talent but has not quite yet become the best player he could be.
The 22-year-old joined the Red Devils in 2015 for £54 million and scored 17 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions in his first season.
"He really is one of the best I've seen. I think that the only player in the world or who I've seen, running with the ball as if it's stuck to his foot, is Leo Messi," Romero added.
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"He can be going at top speed and the ball is always right on the end of his foot, it never gets far away from his control. That's why he can do all the things he does.
"But the thing that Anthony has which is quite similar is when he is running at top speed, he can stop the ball absolutely dead, in a split-second.
"That is the same as what Messi does. Leo will be running with the ball, on a mazy dribble, and then all of a sudden he'll stop suddenly and change pace or change speed or go the other side.
"Anthony can do that with ease and in fact he has done it many times. He dribbles the ball one way, stops suddenly and then goes the other."
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High praise from United's number two and his words are not unjustified, Martial is in fine form and in his last three matches scored four goals and assisted one.
Will he continue his rich vein of form by netting against Bournemouth?
Words by George Buksmann
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Anthony Martial, Football, Manchester United, Lionel Messi