Manchester United

Jose Mourinho understands why Anthony Martial is returning home

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 26 July 2018

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho acknowledges that he 'did not have the right' to prevent Anthony Martial from returning home to attend the birth of his child.

Jose Mourinho has confessed that he was powerless to stop Anthony Martial from returning home midway through Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States.

The Red Devils announced on Wednesday evening that the France international had been given the green light to return to his homeland to attend the birth of his second child.

Martial, whose future at Old Trafford remains unclear with two weeks of the transfer window to go, boarded a plane from the club's Los Angeles base back to Paris.

Contrary to press reports, however, which suggested that Mourinho was unhappy with the player's decision, the Portuguese appeared laid-back when asked about the situation

"I found out that Martial was going to Paris when he told me. It was two or three days ago," he told reporters after his side's penalty shootout win against AC Milan.

"When it is personal reasons, everyone analyses that the way he thinks is the correct way, and when a man is going to be a father - in this case, it's the second time he is going to be a father - and he decides it's very important for him to go, nobody has the right to stop him to go."

Speaking earlier this week, Mourinho hinted that Martial will not be granted the chance to leave United this summer.