Former Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has spoken out after finally finding a new club.
Martial, 28, left Old Trafford in June to end his nine-year stay with the 13-time Premier League champions.
He remained a free agent for three months but is now ready to return to the pitch after signing a contract with a European giant.
The Frenchman joined Greek club AEK Athens on Wednesday after being handed the biggest contract in the club’s history. He signed a three-year deal worth £7.5m including bonuses and revealed he is raring to go.
“I’m very happy,” said Martial after his signing was confirmed. “AEK is an opportunity for me and I will do my best to achieve things, win trophies and bring joy to the world of the team.”
Former Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has joined AEK Athens on a three-year contract
Martial has broken his silence after finding a new club three months after leaving Old Trafford
Martial immediately felt welcome at AEK after being surrounded by 2,000 fans at a Greek airport when he landed in the country on Wednesday night.
AEK have won 13 Greek titles in their history but finished second in the league last season, and they will hope Martial can help them return to the top of the table this time around.
Martial has something to prove after a disappointing end to his time at United, in which he scored just one goal in 13 games last season.
Injuries and inconsistent performances hampered his final years at the club, and he was loaned to Sevilla for the second half of the 2022-23 season.
He finished with 90 goals in 317 appearances for United and left the club three months ago after failing to secure a contract extension.
Martial joins a club that has made a strong start to the season, having picked up 10 points from their first four league games.
They will be back in action on Sunday and Martial could be pushing to get his first minutes for his new club.
His fitness could be a concern, however, having not played at all since December due to illness, injury and Erik ten Hag’s fall from grace at United.
