It has been reported that Louis van Gaal has admitted that Manchester United forked out a monumental amount of money on Anthony Martial.
This summer, the Red Devils signed the 19-year-old French forward from AS Monaco for an initial fee of £36million which could reach as much as £58m.
The transfer has attracted a lot of attention in the UK and around Europe with many critics suggesting United have taken a huge gamble in spending so much cash on a largely untried player.
Speaking at an event for executive United season ticket-holders, van Gaal acknowledged the money spent on Martial was absurd but insists it is part and parcel of modern football.
“It was a ridiculous amount of money, but it’s the crazy world we are in,” said the Dutchman.
Van Gaal then added, according to The Times: “I have not bought Martial for me, I have bought him for the next manager of Manchester United.”
Martial, who debuted for France last week, could make his first Red Devils appearance in Saturday’s home Premier League clash with Liverpool.