Ex-Manchester United man Anthony Martial is searching for the seventh club of his career after he suffered a new low with Mexican side Monterrey releasing him from his contract
Anthony Martial’s turbulent career has taken a new twist after the Manchester United forward agreed to terminate his contract at Monterrey.
Martial, who left United in 2024, had been at the Mexican side since last September, following his departure from AEK Athens in the Greek Super League.
The 30-year-old had signed a two-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months, but he has been cut off after just one goal and three assists in 20 matches.
It leaves Martial at square one again and a free agent for the third time in three years, after his departure from United and his stint at AEK, where he scored nine times in 24 games.
Martial’s time at Monterrey was disrupted by a dislocated shoulder suffered in February. He was forced to be stretchered off in severe pain during a 1-0 win against Club Leon in Liga Mx.
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His final appearance for Monterrey, known as one of the biggest clubs in North America, came on March 18 against Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where he played 60 minutes before being substituted.
Later that month, Martial was reported to be barred from first-team training after he was angered by not being brought on as a substitute during Monterrey’s 3-2 defeat by Chivas de Guadalajara.
Mexican outlet TUDN said that Martial was furious when 20-year-old talent Joaquin Moxica was substituted on in the 74th minute when Monterrey were 3-0 down and needed a spark.
Martial lost his temper at manager Nicolas Sanchez and remained an unused substitute for the rest of the game. He was later punished and told to train away from the main group for the remainder of the week.
The ex-Sevilla man was then left out of the Monterrey squad for their remaining five matches of the season – and has now been released and is searching for another club.
It’s a dramatic fall from grace for Martial, who was tipped to become one of the best attackers in world football when he made the £36m move to United from Monaco in 2015. He scored on his debut as a second-half substitute against Liverpool and went on to fire in 17 goals across his first season.
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Martial was a key part of United’s attack for his first couple of years at Old Trafford, reaching double figures for goals in four of his opening five seasons in a Reds shirt. The Frenchman posted his most prolific record in the Covid-19 hit 2019/20 campaign, where he notched an impressive 23 goals in 48 matches.
But that is as good as it got for Martial at United as his career began to dwindle, falling down the pecking order in 2021/22 before being used as a bit-part player under Erik ten Hag.
After scoring just twice in 19 matches across his final season at United, a decision was made for Martial to leave the club at the end of the 2023/24 season, following a nine-year spell in Manchester.
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