Anthony Martial Manchester United future: Tottenham on alert as Jose Mourinho fumes over tour exit

Jose Mourinho says he was powerless to stop Anthony Martial leaving Manchester United’s pre-season tour of America to fly to Paris for the birth of his second child.

Mourinho has not confirmed if Martial was given permission to leave their training camp but he is said to be deeply unhappy with the 22-year-old French striker.

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Martial’s relationship with Mourinho is already strained and his departure from the US tour raises further doubts about his future at United, with Spurs among a number of clubs to be linked with the Frenchman.

Without Martial, United beat AC Milan 9-8 in a marathon 26 spot-kick penalty shootout this morning after the game in Los Angeles had finished 1-1.

After the game, Mourinho addressed the decision taken by Martial to return to France. “I found out Martial was going to Paris when he told me, which was two or three days ago,” he said.

“When it is for personal reasons, everyone analyses that the way he thinks is the correct way.

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“When a man is going to be a father — in this case it is the second time he is going to be a father — and he decides it is very important for him to go, no one has the right to stop him.”

Alexis Sanchez gave United the lead after 12 minutes but that was cancelled out by Suso three minutes later.

Mourinho, meanwhile, has cranked up the pressure on Jurgen Klopp to end Liverpool’s trophy drought this season after spending £170million on four new players.

Mourinho said: “Maybe this season finally you demand they win. You have to be fair and now you have to demand [they win the Premier League].

“You have to say the team, with the investments you made last season, that you made in January, that you make now, because that will probably be the record for the Premier League this season, I cannot see anyone else getting close to spending what they have.

“A team that was a finalist in the Champions League, you have to say you are a big candidate, you have to win [the Premier League].”