It was Sunday, March 28, 2021, and Manchester United's Anthony Martial started as France played Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier.
The stadium in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, was empty as the outside world continued to fight the pandemic, which meant it was only each nation's coaching staff and the players on the pitch that got to witness a moment of brilliance courtesy of Martial.
Just before the 20-minute mark, the forward picked up the ball in the opposition's half and stylishly pirouetted around a defender with his first touch of the ball before gliding towards goal. Martial then provided Ousmane Dembele with a chance to score and the Barcelona forward duly found the back of the net. It was an excellent way to open the scoring and it all started with Martial.
While Martial loves playing for France, his appearance for his country was about to turn into a nightmare. Shortly after the second half had begun, the player went down in visible pain. Martial received treatment, he tried to continue, but he was eventually brought off and his worst fear was subsequently confirmed. He had sustained a serious knee injury. He was out for the rest of the season.
Martial missed out on the final two months of the campaign, including the Europa League final, and he was ruled out of the summer's European Championship. Martial then returned to Manchester in late June as he continued his rehabilitation and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provided an encouraging update on the player: “Anthony Martial has also joined us," Solskjaer confirmed just before July.
"But he’s not joined the team training yet. He’s recovering from the knee injury and that looks good."
Martial would need another four weeks until he returned to full training at United and he was finally pictured on with his teammates again at the Reds' training camp in St Andrews, Scotland in the first week of August. His pre-season was now under way.
It has since been subsequently claimed that some within the club found it difficult to communicate with Martial during his rehabilitation period, but Solskjaer always seemed publicly happy with Martial, albeit it would be in his interest to appear so.
Martial then started for United in their pre-season friendly against Everton and he was fit enough to start in United's opening game of the season at Old Trafford versus Leeds. With the summer transfer window still open, Martial was linked with a move away and Solskjaer was asked about such reports ahead of the opening day match against Leeds.
There's often no smoke without fire, but Solskjaer was keen to insist Martial would not be leaving United. "I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams targeted Anthony because he is a very good player," Solskjaer said.
"Anthony has come back strong and hungry, with the determination to prove his fitness and his quality. Last season was a difficult and disappointing one for him and you can see that little bit of grit between his teeth again.
"He is up for the challenge, he is a Man United player and we are happy to have him. He has proven doubters wrong so many times."
Despite those comments, Solskjaer then started Daniel James, who would leave the club two weeks later, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood against Leeds. Martial was left on the bench. Solskjaer's actions were louder than his words.
Although Martial started against Southampton one week later, he had to wait until October for his next league start. He was reduced to two cameo appearances after that Southampton match and he was an unused substitute versus West Ham and Aston Villa.
The cracks were now beginning to show at United and Solskjaer rolled the dice when it was inadvisable to do so.
On the back of a home defeat to Aston Villa, Solskjaer dropped Cristiano Ronaldo and started Martial for the visit of Everton. Jadon Sancho was left on the bench. Ahead of that game, Martial had two goals in his last 24 appearances, both of which came in the 9-0 win over Southampton and starting him made no sense. The controversial decision perhaps made some sense by full-time.
Martial missed an early opportunity in that game, but he also scored United's only goal just before half-time. He was brought off the pitch and 'Tony Martial scores again' echoed around the Stretford End.
That was Martial's last league start for United and it might have been the last time he'll hear his name sung at Old Trafford.
Martial has started just one match - that was under Michael Carrick at Villarreal, not Solskjaer - since he left the field against Everton and he was finding minutes hard to come by. Yet with managerial change comes opportunity and Ralf Rangnick's interim appointment was a potential new start for Martial, however, it seemed his mind had already been made upon his next move.
To make matters worse, Martial suffered a knee injury - the same knee which he damaged against Kazakhstan in March - in Rangnick's first training session and then his agent, Philippe Lamboley, came out and made a public appearance, which he has form for.
"Anthony wishes to leave the club in January," Lamboleys said. "He just needs to play. He doesn't want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon." Rangnick responded by informing the press that he hadn't discussed such matters with Martial.
That was until Martial 'spoke at length' with Rangnick and it was agreed he could leave the club. Martial was not selected in the five United games since it had emerged he wished to leave and Sevilla had come calling, offering to take the Frenchman on loan.
Their offer, which was to cover half of the player's wages, was rejected. While Sevilla went back to the drawing board, Rangnick only fielded eight of a possible nine substitutes at Aston Villa. The German then claimed Martial refused to be in that squad.
Martial took to social media that very night and denied Rangnick's comments. He claimed he had 'never disrespected United' and some were quick to point out he was fined for leaving United's pre-season tour in 2018 under Jose Mourinho.
It felt like the beginning of the end for Martial and it was. Rangnick held peace talks with Martial and the dispute was stalled, but the die had already been cast, despite the player then being welcomed back into the fold against Brentford and West Ham.
Sevilla made a breakthrough to sign Martial on Monday, they offered to cover all of his wages, and the deal moved quickly from that moment on. Martial arrived in Spain on Tuesday afternoon and he was officially a Sevilla player by Tuesday night.
Martial has joined Sevilla on loan until the end of the season, however, United haven't received a loan fee for Martial and there is no option to make the move permanent. That means there could be another chapter yet in Martial's career at Old Trafford.
After this tumultuous season, Martial needed a fresh start and everyone connected with United wishes him the best in Spain.
Perhaps 'Tony Martial scores again' will be heard at Old Trafford in the future.
