Anthony Martial offered to Betis, club opted for youth with Troy Parrott | OneFootball

Anthony Martial offered himself to Real Betis several times in the summer, but the club stuck to a youth-first plan and declined to pursue him.

According to La Colina De Nervion, the French forward tried to become a genuine option while sporting director Manu Fajardo assessed targets to strengthen Manuel Pellegrini’s front line.

Martial was appealing on paper, an experienced international available immediately and without a transfer fee, yet Betis prioritised age profile and development potential.

His recent path has been uneven after his peak years in England. A loan at Sevilla in 2021-22 brought 12 appearances, 1 goal and 1 assist, with 9 LaLiga games and no goals. He then moved to AEK Athens and later Monterrey in search of continuity.

Betis ultimately chose Troy Parrott, a 24-year-old Irish striker from AZ Alkmaar, for around 16 million euros plus add-ons that could reach 20 million, signing him through 2031.

The contrast was clear, rather than take a 30-year-old for free, Betis invested heavily in a forward six years younger.

Early signs are positive. Parrott has scored decisive goals against Real Madrid in LaLiga and Lille in the Champions League, and has quickly joined Pellegrini’s attacking rotation.

Martial’s name stayed on the table for weeks and he continued to push, but Betis kept to their plan.

Source: La Colina De Nervion

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”