Martial’s Mexican Stint Ends Abruptly
Anthony Martial’s recent football career has taken another downturn, with reports indicating his contract with Mexican club Monterrey has been terminated one year ahead of schedule. The agreement between the French forward, aged 30, and the club to end his deal early has been confirmed by football transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
Martial only joined Monterrey in September of last year, with his contract initially set to run until 2027, including an option for an additional year. However, his tenure has concluded after a challenging period, marked by a single goal and three assists across 20 appearances.
Injury and Incident Mar Time in Mexico
The former Manchester United striker’s time with Monterrey was significantly impacted by a dislocated shoulder sustained in February, which led to him being stretchered off in considerable pain during a match against Club Leon. His final outing for the prominent Central American club occurred on March 18 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Cruz Azul.
Later that month, Martial was reportedly excluded from team training following a strong reaction to not being substituted into a match against Chivas de Guadalajara, which Monterrey ultimately lost 3-2. According to Mexican media outlet TUDN, Martial displayed frustration on the substitutes’ bench when young player Joaquin Moxica was introduced in the 74th minute while his team was trailing.
Sources suggest that manager Nicolas Sanchez’s decision to overlook Martial led to the player losing his temper, remaining an unused substitute for the remainder of the game. This reported incident was observed by club staff, and the former Manchester United forward was subsequently disciplined, being instructed to train separately from the main squad for the rest of that week.
A Career of Unfulfilled Potential
Upon his arrival at Old Trafford for a reported £36 million in 2015, a then-record fee for a teenager, Martial was widely expected to develop into a world-class attacking talent. His promising start, including a goal against Liverpool on his debut, fueled these high expectations.
However, his time in Manchester was plagued by inconsistency, injury setbacks, and frequent managerial changes. He concluded his spell at Old Trafford with an average of just over 10 goals per season across all competitions.
After falling down the pecking order in 2022, Martial was loaned to Sevilla, where he struggled to find the net, scoring only once in 12 games. He then moved to AEK Athens in 2024 on a free transfer. With the Greek club, he scored nine goals in 24 matches, despite reportedly being on the club’s most lucrative contract. His departure from AEK Athens was reportedly due to his high wages proving unmanageable for the club, and he was omitted from their Champions League squad before his exit.
