Anthony Martial's United 'Dream' Outweighed Another Club's Bid, Says Monaco Boss

Anthony Martial was highly motivated to join Manchester United's cause because of the affinity he has for the club. Reports suggest that another club even failed with a higher bid for his services.

In an interview with Spanish daily Marca, Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev claimed it was the 19-year-old's "dream" to complete an Old Trafford switch, and United weren't the biggest bidders (via Sport Witness):

"

There was another club that offered even more than United. I will not say how much, but the fixed price, without variables, it was even better. And also they offered us to have him for a further year in Monaco. 

But the boy wanted to go to Manchester, it was his dream. And we let him go with the bonus of 30 million. Had it not been for so much money, he'd have stayed.

"

Martial moved to United for an initial fee of €50 million (£36 million), but he could end up costing the Premier League club an additional €30 million (£21.6 million) in add-on bonuses.

After being scrutinised as a hugely expensive player considering his lack of prestige, Martial has since gone on to score four goals in his first six games for United and quickly establish himself as a fan favourite.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Although Vasilyev preferred not to go into detail regarding the identity of the club that supposedly registered a bigger offer, the news will nonetheless enamour the teenager further among his new followers.

One thing that appears certain is Arsenal weren't the other bidding party following comments from Gunners manager Arsene Wenger on Friday, quoted by the Mirror's Jack Lang:

"Martial was one of the players Monaco didn’t want to sell, so we never made any approach. United offered special money. It comes from their own resources. They have the right to do it."

To say Martial has hit the ground running in England would be an understatement, and even France manager Didier Deschamps has admitted being blown away by his success, per the Mirror's Aaron Flanagan:

"

He has the potential. Everybody is surprised by what he is doing at United but that's good for him and good for us. He deserves to be here. It was anything but easy after everything that has been written and said about him.

It has silenced a few people. He's young, he may have more complicated times. He's able to make great things happen. He did in Monaco. He's doing it now in a club at another level so it is easier to pay attention to his performances. He's always been talented though.

"

Martial made his senior debut for France just days after completing the mega-money move to Manchester, quietly going about his business on the pitch in just the manner his fans would hope.

Old Trafford supporters may also owe some thanks to Monaco for agreeing to let Martial realise his fantasy (although a potential payout of £57.6 million may be thanks enough).

There aren't many clubs out there who would be in the financial position needed to out-bid United's staggering Martial offer, although the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City or Chelsea could be prime candidates.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wilson recently attempted to explain the calm demeanour with which he goes about his work, asserting his nonchalant, modest nature as one of his defining attributes:

In a world where hundreds of millions are forked out in transfers every year, players can all too often be labelled "mercenaries" and other terms related to money-grabbing in a system that's only set up to promote such behaviour.

Not in Martial's case, it would seem, as the emerging Manchester United ace will become only more adored in his new setting following word he prioritised a transfer to Old Trafford above all else.