Anthony Martial makes shock transfer U-turn after receiving record contract offer

Anthony Martial looks to have had a change of heart regarding his next move - with a switch to AEK Athens now on the cards.

The former Manchester United star has been seeking a new club since leaving Old Trafford following the expiry of his contract. The Greek outfit had tabled a lucrative deal for the forward, but he looked set to turn it down in favour of a move to Flamengo.

A switch to Brazil has since fallen through with Martial now poised to take up the offer in Athens. The Greek side are ready to hand the Frenchman the most expensive contract in the club's history with a £2.5million-per-season agreement close.

Martial has reached a verbal agreement with AEK and final documents are now being exchanged, as per Sport24. Several other clubs were understood to be keen on the 28-year-old - Atalanta and Marseille among them - but a move to the Greek capital is now on the cards.

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There are already several former Premier League stars at AEK, who have the likes of Erik Lamela and Roberto Pereyra on their books. They are looking to make the most of their unbeaten start to the new season as they currently sit top the Super League.

Martial was inconsistent throughout his time in Manchester and it finished with a whimper as he became an increasingly peripheral figure. Signed in 2015 by Louis van Gaal, who at that point made the Frenchman the most expensive teenager in the history of the game, he was previously linked with moves elsewhere.

The forward scored on his debut against Liverpool and showed flashes of brilliance, but was never the consistent performer the club needed. His best year in front of goal came under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019/20, where he scored 23 times in all competitions.

Since then Martial has managed just 19 goals in four seasons. United allowed the striker to head out on loan to Sevilla in a bid to aid his career, but his switch to Spain failed to have the desired affect as the ex-Monaco man struggled to consistently impact games.

Upon leaving Manchester Martial said to the supporters: “Since I arrived in 2015, I have had the immense honour of wearing this shirt and playing in front of you, the best supporters in the world! You have been an unwavering support, through the good times and the difficult. Your passion and loyalty have been a constant source of motivation for me."

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