Transfers
Anthony Martial ‘Agrees Shock Transfer, Biggest Contract In Club’s History’
Former Manchester United outcast, Anthony Martial has agreed a record-breaking contract with a European club, according to reports.
The striker has been a free agent since leaving Manchester United in summer, upon the expiry of his contract, after a nine-year stint at Old Trafford.
He has been linked with numerous clubs – including Flamengo in Brazil – but is reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with a European side.
SPORT24 report that he is exchanging final documents with Greek giants AEK Athens for a three-year contract, while Relevo report he has verbally agreed a move.
Martial is in line to earn £2.5million per season with AEK and the deal would have been announced on Monday night if not for a delay, as per SPORT24.
That deal, amounting to £7.5m in total including bonuses, would be the most lucrative in AEK’s history.
The three-year guarantee will have been persuasive as Martial’s talks with Flamengo reportedly broke down due to his insistence on that contract length.
Martial has been keeping himself fit over the summer, posting a photo of himself on an exercise bike, holidaying with his family, and going on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, writing on Instagram: ‘Thank you Lord for everything.’
It had also been reported that clubs such as Lille, Atalanta, Marseille, Besiktas were interested in the 28-year-old.
Should he join AEK, Martial would link up with ex-Tottenham star Erik Lamela, Watford throwbacks Roberto Pereyra and Nordin Amrabat, and former Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
Lamela is reportedly the club’s top earner currently on a deal worth a reported €2million (£1.7million) per year.
AEK were also in line to loan in David Datro Fofana from Chelsea but that collapsed and he has since joined Turkish side Goztepe for the season.
Despite AEK busting the bank, Martial would be taking a sizeable pay cut from his terms at Manchester United, having been on £250,000 per week.
The Greek side had been hoping to announce the transfer during their 2-0 win over Volos on Monday night but some details still need to be ironed out.
Martial will look forward to a competitive season with AEK after they finished just two points off title winners PAOK last campaign.
However, there will be no European football to whet his appetite after they were dumped out of the third qualifying round for the Europa Conference League by Armenian side Noah in August.
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