Pep Segura long championed the signing of Manchester United striker Anthony Martial at Barcelona, it has been revealed.

Segura, a former Liverpool academy coach, worked at Barca for almost five years, reaching the position of general manager before his departure last year.

And during his time at La Masia, Segura pushed hard for Barca to bring Martial to Spain.

That's according to Mundo Deportivo's Francesc Aguilar, who revealed: "Pep Segura, when he was the technical director of Barça, always pushed for the Frenchman Anthony Martial (24 years old).

"In that choice he has proved to be right. Despite the ups and downs of Manchester United, Martial has been maturing and is now a very complete attacker, you would bet on him."