Rooney had no idea who Martial was: Schneiderlin

Manchester United ramped up their summer spending, plunging a cool $A77 million on little-known French striker Anthony Martial from Monaco.

Well known in France and coming with the seal of approval from Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, Martial’s reputation precedes him.

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Unless you’re Wayne Rooney, who had NO IDEA who the guy was.

Summer signing Morgan Schneiderlin, who is in the France squad with Martial, admitted that Rooney wasn’t exactly sure who would be partnering him up front.

"To be honest, [on Sunday] on the plane, Wayne Rooney came to speak to me and asked me who Martial was, because the English press had started to speak," he told reporters in France.

"I told him he's a great player with great potential, who has played some good matches with Monaco last season and the beginning of this.

"I told him he is technical and powerful. A little like Thierry Henry, even if it's the press who are making that comparison."

Martial, who has played less than 50 Ligue 1 matches, but has been recently called into the French national squad.

He was granted leave by France boss Didier Deschamps to fly to England and finalise a deal with United.

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