Anthony Martial is the new big signing of Liga MX. The 29-year-old French striker comes to Mexican football with great credentials. Rayados de Monterrey is rubbing their hands together over his signing, but they weren't the only ones interested.

According to Eduardo Saracho, director of sports strategy for the Pumas de la UNAM, Anthony Martial was on the club's radar. In fact, the university team had reportedly presented an offer to the French striker. But Rayados took the plunge.

“We reached an agreement in principle, it was a formal proposal, in writing, we were preparing everything, visas, flights and just as you found out (...) 'boom', the announcement came for Monterrey, we found out the same way, like everyone else,” Saracho said on TUDN.

The “Apertura robbery” in Liga MX

Rayados de Monterrey is the one that will enjoy the services of Anthony Martial until June 2027, the year in which his contract with the club expires. Jose Antonio Noriega, Rayados' sporting president, explained what he did to convince Martial.

“We had Domenec's recommendation to speed up negotiations with Anthony because he was a player who attracted him a lot and, since we agreed, within the alternatives we had, it was the one we pushed the hardest and we were warned by his agents that he had many alternatives in various parts of the world,” said the director.

According to Tato's testimony, after Anthony Martial's entourage analyzed the offers, the French striker considered that the proposal from Rayados de Monterrey was the one that attracted him the most. The former Manchester United player, without formally rejecting the Pumas' proposal, signed with the Monterrey team.

"Fortunately, they told us very quickly that after analyzing the deal, along with their family, the option that would most appeal to them was Monterrey, and that's why they're here. I see it like any other negotiation we've had in the past; that's our response," the executive added.