LONDON: Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that the fee paid for teenage French striker Anthony Martial was “a ridiculous amount of money”.

The 19-year-old, who only won his first cap for France after the deal went through, cost a staggering reported fee of £36 million ($55.1m) from Monaco just before the transfer window closed last week.

It is believed the fee could rise to £58 million, and van Gaal, speaking at an event in Manchester for executive United season-ticket holders, said: “It was a ridiculous amount of money, but it’s the crazy world we are in.”

The Dutchman added that the fee reflected a trend of United being routinely quoted “£10m more” for players.