West Ham United released striker Toni Martinez way back in the summer of 2019, somewhat surprisingly so at the time.
But how has the 25-year-old Spanish hitman got on since leaving West Ham for Famalicao?
Well Martinez’s goal record hasn’t been great, although he did earn a big move to Porto from Famalicao in 2020.
The Spaniard was a big talent when he moved to the London Stadium from Valencia for around £2.5 million in 2016.
He scored bundles of goals for the Hammers under-21s but he was only given three outings for the senior side.
There were plenty of West Ham fans who were angry when Martinez was released but was that anger justified?
Toni Martinez goalscoring record since leaving West Ham
The Spanish striker has played 142 games since leaving the London Stadium for Portugal three-and-a-half years ago.
During those games, Martinez has bagged only 40 goals – a goal every 3.5 games on average (Transfermarkt). Not great for a centre-forward is it?
And it must be said, those goals have been scored out in Portugal’s first and second divisions – a far inferior standard to the Premier League.
Sometimes as West Ham fans we love having a good old moan when our young players are released, and in fairness, it has happened far too often of late with the likes of Harrison Ashby, Sonny Perkins and Aji Alese.
However, 95% of the time, West Ham get it right when we allow players to leave. There are no guarantees that any of those three players will be a success.
They could quite easily follow the likes of Freddie Sears and Jeremy Ngakia by dropping down the leagues.
West Ham releasing Toni Martinez back in the summer of 2019 was 100% the correct decision as far as I’m concerned.
Although it might not have felt like it at the time.
