Free agent Martial offered return to France as Ratcliffe's Nice weigh cut-price move

Anthony Martial is a free agent for the third time in three years after mutually terminating his contract with Mexican side Monterrey earlier this month, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Nice have emerged as potential suitors for the 30-year-old Frenchman.

Martial had signed a two-year deal — with an option for a third — at Monterrey last September, but managed only one goal and three assists in 20 appearances before the club cut ties. A dislocated shoulder suffered in February, which required him to be stretchered off during a 1-0 win against Club Leon, disrupted his campaign further. His final appearance came on 18 March against Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, after which he was omitted from the squad for the club’s remaining five fixtures.

According to Foot Mercato, Martial is keen to revive his career in Ligue 1 — more than a decade after leaving Monaco for Manchester United — and his name has been circulated among several sporting directors in France. However, his salary demands and a disappointing recent record have cooled interest from most clubs.

Nice, where Ratcliffe has held full ownership for seven years, remain interested. The Ligue 1 side narrowly avoided relegation last season, surviving only after a 4-1 aggregate play-off victory over Saint-Etienne, and are looking to strengthen their squad to ensure a more comfortable campaign in 2025-26. The club are reported to be cautious, though, and must first reduce their wage bill by trimming squad numbers before committing to any new signing.

Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in 2024, has maintained Nice as a consistent top-flight presence throughout his tenure, making them a credible landing spot for a player of Martial’s profile — even if his stock has fallen sharply in recent years.

Martial’s trajectory represents one of the more striking declines in modern football. Signed from Monaco for £36 million in 2015, he scored on his United debut as a substitute and was widely regarded as one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe. A series of injuries and inconsistent form across a decade at Old Trafford ultimately led to his departure in 2024. A subsequent spell at AEK Athens — where he scored nine times in 23 games during the 2024-25 season — offered brief encouragement before his ill-fated move to Mexico.

Whether Nice decide to take a chance on the former France international this summer will likely depend on their ability to reshape their squad finances first.