Fabrizio Romano confirms SHOCK transfer of Man Utd flop

Carlo Garganese

• 17 Sept 2024 07:50 BST
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that AEK Athens are set to complete the shock signing of former Manchester United flop Anthony Martial.

Romano reports that Athens are set to seal a deal for the France striker on a free transfer in the coming hours.

The transfer comes after a move to Brazilian club Flamengo collapsed, opening the door for Martial to join AEK Athens.

The 28-year-old is expected to sign a three-year deal until 2027 worth around €3m per year.

This contract is the richest and most lucrative in the history of the Greek club, beating the current record held by Erik Lamela, who earns €2m a season.

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Martial is currently a free agent after his Man Utd contract expired on July 1.

He has been linked with a host of clubs since then, including joining his former Man Utd teammate Raphael Varane at Como. He has also been linked with a transfer back to Ligue 1 with Lille, but that idea was shot down by the club’s president. And then negotiations with Flamengo collapsed.

A move to AEK Athens comes as a surprise given that Martial is still in the peak of his career at the age of 28.

AEK Athens are currently top in the Greek Super League after four matches played this season. They finished second last term, just one point behind champions PAOK.

Martial at Man Utd

Martial joined Manchester United in 2015 as the world’s most expensive teenager but despite some bright spells never truly fulfilled his potential.

His last few years in particular were a disaster at Old Trafford.

He scored just 12 Premier League goals in his last four seasons, while he only scored two goals in all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign.

In total he has scored 90 goals in 317 games for the club in nine seasons at Man Utd. He only turned 28 in December.

Martial has won five trophies at United, all of them considered rather minor titles. These are the 2016 and 2024 FA Cup, 2017 League Cup, 2016 Community Shield and 2017 Europa League.