Anthony Martial has stunned fans by joining Monterrey in Mexico after leaving AEK Athens, but his switch has stirred controversy — www.isagoal.com reports.
What should have been a smooth transfer has turned into a feud, with Pumas officials claiming they were already in line to secure Martial before Monterrey swooped in.
According to TalkSport, Pumas staff said they had reached an agreement in principle with AEK Athens, and Martial was even preparing to travel to Mexico City to finalize the deal.
Instead, the Frenchman shocked them by appearing in Monterrey colors, leaving Pumas fuming and demanding an explanation.
Miguel Mejia Baron, a senior figure at Pumas, didn’t mince his words, saying: “It’s not the agent who decides, it’s the player. Maybe he had his reasons, but what he lacked was an apology.”
Eduardo Saracho, another member of the recruitment team, revealed they only realized they’d lost Martial when Monterrey’s unveiling hit the headlines.
The 29-year-old forward is aiming for a fresh start in Mexico after a frustrating year in Greece where he failed to lift silverware.
His unveiling was made even bigger by the fact that Sergio Ramos, who joined Monterrey earlier this year, is now the club’s captain.
At the press conference, Martial explained his choice: “I know many players here, it was an easy decision for me. I wanted something new, and I’m happy to be here.”
The former Manchester United star made 317 appearances for the English giants, scoring 90 goals and assisting 54 more during nine injury-disrupted years at Old Trafford.
After joining AEK Athens on a free transfer, he scored nine goals in 24 games but was later frozen out of matchday squads, sparking his search for another club.
Martial is expected to make his Monterrey debut soon, with the Liga MX leaders currently sitting top of the table after winning seven of their first eight matches.