Anthony Martial's Málaga Move: Advanced Negotiations for LaLiga Return

Anthony Martial could be about to restart his stalled career in Spain, with Málaga pushing to bring the free agent to LaLiga.

According to Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato, the Andalusian club are in “advanced negotiations” with the 30-year-old forward. Posting on X, Aouna reported that discussions “are progressing and an agreement is close” as Málaga move to strengthen their attack.

Martial has been without a club for two months following the termination of his contract with CF Monterrey. The Mexican side had originally tied him down until mid-2027, but the deal was cut short in July for reasons that have not been made public. He left after 20 appearances, with one goal and three assists to his name.

For Málaga, the timing is no coincidence. Back in LaLiga after years away, they have found the step up unforgiving. Promotion in the summer brought optimism, but three points from their early fixtures leave them 18th and looking vulnerable. A player with Martial’s pedigree, even one rebuilding his reputation, represents a calculated gamble.

It is a stark contrast to where his story seemed headed a decade ago. A phenomenon at AS Monaco, Martial burst onto the scene as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards. Manchester United paid at least €60 million to prise him away, and his early performances at Old Trafford suggested they had secured a future superstar.

The trajectory never quite held. Injuries, inconsistency and managerial changes all chipped away at his status. A loan to Sevilla failed to reignite him, and in 2024 United terminated his contract while he was sidelined, with his deal already running down.

He moved on to AEK Athens a few months later and briefly found his scoring touch, hitting nine goals. Even that was not enough to convince the Greek club to persist with him, and he was moved on again, this time to Mexico and Monterrey, where the relationship quickly unravelled.

Now the France international, capped 30 times, stands at another crossroads. A once-electric talent trying to outrun the sense that his career is drifting. Málaga, fighting to establish themselves back in the Spanish top flight, may be offering him one of the last big stages to prove there is still a decisive forward inside the player who once lit up Europe.