Nicolas Anelka knows what it’s like to be a teenage French striker who cost an astronomical amount of money. Almost.

At the age of 20, Anelka agreed a move to Real Madrid. He had scored 23 goals in 65 league appearances for Arsenal, an incredible record for his age, and Real Madrid signed him for an incredible £22.3m back in 1999.

Today, 19-year-old French striker Anthony Martial is a Manchester United player having signed for the club for a fee which couls rise to £58m at the end of the summer transfer window, and Anelka thinks he will be a hit.

“Anthony is a very good player and I’m sure he’ll do well for United,” said the former France international.

“He is one of the most talented young players of his generation. He’ll get better and better!”

During spells with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion, Anelka scored 126 Premier League goals in 364 appearances. The striker had it all, so he knows what it takes to be the very best.

His first ever Premier League goal came in a famous 3-2 Arsenal win over Manchester United back in 1997. On Sunday, for the first time, Martial will play in the same fixture. Let’s hope he doesn’t have the same impact at the Emirates Stadium as Anelka had at Highbury.