In summary, with nine goals and two assists, Martial has adapted to AEK Athens quite nicely.
However, things haven’t gone as planned.
After being embroiled in scandals and suffering injuries, Martial faces difficulties in Greece.
Anthony Martial may always be associated with fantasies of what might have been for Manchester United supporters or Premier League fans in general. After signing a contract with Louis van Gaal’s team in 2015, the Frenchman was only a few weeks into his role as the Red Devils’ new number nine. He had his own chant after winning late against Liverpool on his debut, set to Martin Tyler’s most emotional commentary line.
However, the then-whizzkid would break down under the burden of leading the line at Old Trafford, thus the £36 million the Glazers’ family spent for him was never fully reimbursed. He scored 90 goals and provided 54 assists in 317 games before being released last summer when his contract expired due to a series of injuries and a protracted dry patch in front of goal.
The 29-year-old (yeah, time has flown by!) currently plays for AEK Athens, the 13-time Greek League champions. However, how is the man who was given the responsibility of bringing United back to its heyday faring on the beautiful Mediterranean? We have examined it.
The Good Side To Anthony Martial’s Time At AEK Athens
The stats make for a promising read
Martial seems to be adapting to his new environment very well on the surface. The former Monaco star, now free from the constant scrutiny of English football, has contributed nine goals and two assists in 23 games, the majority of which have come from the bench. In contrast to the tired, faded man he had become in his last days at Old Trafford, it was not a bad return.
His AEK Athens debut garnered criticism at first and came almost ten months after his final game for Erik ten Hag’s team, a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in December 2023. However, Martial soon started drawing attention after putting together a few starts. By November, just three months into the 2024–25 season, the Greek media had mostly warmed up to his performances, having won over both his teammates and the AEK supporters.
The former Golden Boy champion scored two goals in a 5-0 thumping of Panserraikos in February. He had six shots on goal, an 81% pass accuracy rate, and an 8.7 Sofascore rating because he was too hot for Greek defenders to handle. His season’s coruscating high point was undoubtedly this.
Despite not being a mainstay in the starting lineup, Martial has seen a big increase in minutes since leaving M16, and there is a general feeling of quiet delight in watching the Frenchman play with a smile once more. But not all sunshine lasts long, as Martial has seen some cloud cover during his time in Greece.
The Negative Aspects Of Anthony Martial’s AEK Athens Career
This summer, the club is open to selling him.
Martial became the highest-paid player in the history of AEK Athens after agreeing to a £2.9 million annual contract. This seemed like a dangerous move for the club at the time, but it has also unintentionally backfired because the club is apparently open to hearing offers for the Frenchman before his contract expires in 2027 in order to avoid missing out on another pay day.
Life in the Greek capital hasn’t always been easy for Martial, as evidenced by the fact that he was among several players sent off amid skirmishes between his team and Olympiacos last month (see the event below).
Although his numbers might suggest a player’s comeback and a personal renaissance, they don’t provide the whole picture. Because of his prior background, expectations are still much greater even if Martial has displayed glimmers of the skill that once made him one of Europe’s most promising prospects. The people in charge of AEK Athens probably wanted more from a player who was once so highly regarded than merely occasional bursts of form.
Now that Martial is getting paid a lot to play as a super-sub, the team is allegedly looking at other offensive options. It’s unclear where that puts the Frenchman before summer. Although his ongoing injury issues haven’t helped his cause—he missed seven games from early February to April during a recent stint on the sidelines—there is still reason to think he has more to offer as he approaches his 30th birthday.
xz
