Green Street Hammers
Fansided

West Ham Academy Player Follow Up: Toni Martinez

By Henry Tomlinson

LISBON, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 04: Toni Martinez of FC Famalicao celebrates scoring FC Famalicao second goal during the match between SL Benfica and FC Famalicao for the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi Finals at Estadio da Luz on February 4, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 04: Toni Martinez of FC Famalicao celebrates scoring FC Famalicao second goal during the match between SL Benfica and FC Famalicao for the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi Finals at Estadio da Luz on February 4, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Only a year after his release from West Ham, Toni Martinez is showing signs that the Hammers made the wrong decision.

The Spaniard was signed form the Valencia youth academy by Slaven Bilic. Matinez had impressed hugely in the club’s youth teams; he managed to score plenty of goals in the club’s youth team which alerted West Ham to his potential.

Martinez hit the ground running at the Hammers, and he scored on his debut for the under 23s. The striker earned rave reviews during his time at the club, finished with 25 goals in 29 games for the youth team. Martinez never really pushed on from there; however, the 23-year-old was never able to force himself into the first team.

The Spaniard only made three appearances for the first team and only managed to register one assist and zero goals in that time. Despite, loan spells at Oxford United, Valladolid, Rayo Majadahonda and Lugo it didn’t look like Martinez would realise his potential. The striker only scored five times across all those loan moves, even though he played 51 times.

So when Martinez was coming to the end of his contract, it did make sense that it should not be renewed as it appeared he was not going to cut it in England. Many thought that would be the last of Martinez, but he was about to prove many doubters wrong.

LISBON, PORTUGAL – FEBRUARY 4: Toni Martinez of FC Famalicao celebrates after scoring a goal during the Taca de Portugal match between SL Benfica and FC Famalicao at Estadio da Luz on February 4, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – FEBRUARY 4: Toni Martinez of FC Famalicao celebrates after scoring a goal during the Taca de Portugal match between SL Benfica and FC Famalicao at Estadio da Luz on February 4, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) /

But since Martinez’s release, he had found his feet and started to realise that promise that he showed when he was younger. In 2019 he signed a three-year-deal at  F.C. Famalicão in Portugal. The move has suited Martinez ideally, in thirty-nine appearances he scored fourteen goals and assisted five. An impressive record of almost one goal contribution every other game helping the club finish 6th in the Primeira Liga.

Martinez’s fine form has alerted the attention of Portuguese giants and current champions Porto. A move to Porto following his best senior career football so far could see Martinez ply his trade in the Champions League next season.

West Ham back in for River Plate’s Argentinian right-back. dark. Next

West Ham’s loss is F.C. Famalicão’s gain as they could be set to make a significant profit on a player they signed for free only a year ago.