Jamie Redknapp Says Anthony Martial Is the Best Prospect Since Lionel Messi

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has showered Manchester United starlet Anthony Martial with effusive praise, proclaiming the forward is the finest 19-year-old prospect since Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Martial has been exceptional since joining the Red Devils for an initial £36 million on the final day of the summer transfer window, scoring four goals in the infancy of his Old Trafford career. Redknapp told Sky Sports that the only player he’s seen at such a high standard at such a young age is the Barcelona icon:

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I watched Anthony Martial for 90 minutes in the Champions League and the only 19-year-old I've seen better at that age was Lionel Messi.

I played against Wayne Rooney when he made his debut but this boy has so much intelligence. He knows when to pass, when to cross it, when to dribble and when to shoot. He goes past people like they're not there.

Everything he does, there is a reason behind it. It's like he's been here before—certain players have this, you can't put your finger on what it is, but it's just a quality. I love watching him play. He's going to be a superstar.

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Michael Regan/Getty Images

Martial does seem destined for the very top. Not only does the youngster have the physical traits to mix it in the Premier League already, but there’s an appreciation of the game and composure in high-pressure situations that belies his tender years.

As Alex Shaw of ESPN FC notes here, even when Martial isn’t scoring goals, he’s having an impact on games:

Still, caution needs to be exercised. It’s easy to get caught up in hyperbole when a fresh face takes the Premier League by storm, and Martial is a player who has galvanised what was a ponderous United attack. But it’s still very early days, and in the past, we’ve seen teenagers fizz for a short spell before eventually burning out.

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There’s been no suggestions that Martial will follow that unfortunate route as of yet, but it’s just as feasible to suggest he might as it is to compare the Frenchman to a young Messi.

Indeed, as BreatheSport note here, opinions can change very quickly in football, so it’s important to step back and garner perspective:

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J. Redknapp: Sep: "Martial fee was extortionate. Looked like a panic buy" Oct: "Martial best youngster since Messi" pic.twitter.com/Ae3sjd62bU

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) October 2, 2015"

It’s tough to foresee a future in which Martial is not hyped up, though. He’s leading the line for one of the biggest football clubs in the world, donning the prestigious No. 9 jersey and making scoring goals in the Premier League look unerringly easy. If things continue as they are, he’ll be a superstar.

MANU FERNANDEZ/Associated Press

If he does go to the summit, it’ll be a different route to Messi. The Barcelona man had influences like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o around him during his younger days at the Camp Nou. Martial is very much the main man already at Old Trafford, and it’ll be intriguing to see whether, despite a flawless start, the accompanying pressures of that mantle do take their toll.