Martial's wild Man Utd clause seen in new light after fresh transfer twist

Anthony Martial left Manchester United in the summer of 2024, ending his nine-year stay at Old Trafford before signing for Greek giants AEK Athens on a free transfer

Anthony Martial's career is set to take another twist, as he continues his fall from grace one year after leaving Manchester United. Martial, 29, was once tipped to be a Ballon d'Or winner, so much so that a clause was inserted into his contract when United signed him from Monaco for an initial £36million in August 2015.

The deal would've risen to £57.6m had all three bonuses clauses been met. One of those stipulated that if the French forward won the Ballon d'Or while playing for United, Monaco would be owed a further £7.2m.

Ultimately, Martial was never in contention for the prestigious award during his nine-year stay at Old Trafford. In June 2024, after scoring 90 goals in 317 appearances for the Red Devils, the 30-capped France international left United upon the end of his contract.

Three months later, Martial ended his stint as a free agent and signed for Greek giants AEK Athens. The 29-year-old scored nine goals and registered two assists last season, helping AEK finish second in the Super League 1.

But their form fell off a cliff in the Championship play-offs, losing all six games to finish bottom of a four-man table. Manager Matias Almeyda, who'd brought Martial to Greece, left following the disappointment and was replaced by Marko Nikolic.

The appointment of Nikolic has been bad news for Martial, who's played just 31 minutes of football this term. The ex-Monaco starlet was left out of AEK's squad to face Anderlecht in the Conference League play-offs, as the Greek side won 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the league phase.

Now Martial is surplus to requirements, with his club willing to send him out on loan. According to reports in Mexico, Liga MX outfit Pumas are exploring a move.

The deadline for new signings to be registered is Friday but, as things stand, Martial is unwilling to reduce his salary. If he doesn't get the move, Martial could find himself kicking his heels in Athens until at least the January transfer window.

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His time at Old Trafford ended on a sour note, with injury restricting him to just 19 appearances in all competitions during his final season. In an emotional farewell message, Martial said: "Manchester United will always be in my heart. This club has left its mark on my career and offered me an incredible opportunity to play in front of you.

"I'm leaving to take on new challenges, I'll always be a Red Devil and I'll continue to follow the club's results with passion. Thank you again for everything, and see you soon. With all my affection, Anthony Martial."