Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Anthony Martial, Transfers, Premier League
Marcus Banks
Topics: Manchester United, Anthony Martial, Transfers, Premier League
Anthony Martial left Manchester United in the summer transfer window and has achieved something at new club AEK Athens that he never managed at Old Trafford.
The French forward was not offered a new contract in the summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by then manager Erik ten Hag.
He started just five Premier League games, scoring one goal, in his final season at United before departing on a free transfer, eventually signing for Greek side AEK Athens.
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Martial has rediscovered his best form since moving to Greece, scoring five goals in 13 appearances and netted the winner on Saturday as AEK defeated Panetolikos to move to second in the standings.
His exploits since leaving have left United fans stunned but it’s not his goal record that is raising eyebrows - it’s his fitness.
Martial was plagued with injuries during his time at United which contributed to his time at the club ending the way it did but such injury problems have deserted him since leaving.
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The forward has not missed a single game through injury and has completed ten full matches with a total of 1,195 minutes played.
For comparison, Martial missed 12 games for United in his final season at the club, 27 games in the season prior, nine games in 2021/22 and a whopping 17 games in 2020/21 as per Transfermarkt.
One fan on X wrote: “The Greek league is significantly more physical than the Premier League. It’s not as intense running wise but still at a high level. Martial was getting injured in training and not in matches which leaves me to wonder what our medical team does and what we did in training.”
Another said: “Once they leave United, they always get their joy back.”
One United fan added: “Beginning to think it’s our climate.”
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Martial required groin surgery in January 2024 and missed AEK’s first three matches as a result but is now back to his best after returning to full fitness.
The former Monaco forward was slammed by Graeme Souness after sealing his move to Athens with the Scotland legend claiming he had ‘found his level’.
Souness said: “Anthony Martial has joined AEK Athens in Greece. Maybe, even at 28, that is his level. In his nine seasons at Manchester United, no player better captured the club's malaise.
“He is the best example of where they have gone wrong. I said about four years ago, entering a new season, that it had to be Martial's last-chance saloon. I cannot believe it was only this summer that he finally left the club.”
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AEK Athens sit second in the Greek Super League, four points behind leaders Olympiacos.