West Ham United striker Taty Castellanos famously scored four times in one outing against Real Madrid. Toni Martinez might not have ended up on the winning side in midweek, but the former Hammers starlet does have a Bernabeu backheel to look back on.
Earlier this week, Martinez reflected on his decision to leave West Ham for Portuguese outfit Famalicao following a series of somewhat underwhelming loan spells. It was, the Valencia academy graduate said, ‘the best decision of my life’.
If that is the ‘best decision’ Toni Martinez has ever made, then the goal he scored against Real Madrid might be up there among his ‘best finishes’.
What would you say if West Ham RE-SIGNED Toni Martinez?
The Alaves striker has 9 La Liga goals this season…
A cross fizzed in, and the Deportivo Alaves frontman diverted the ball brilliantly past Andriy Lunin with a flick of the heel.
With four goals and one assist to his name in his last four outings, WhoScored have the one-time West Ham United prospect rated as ‘the most in-form player across Europe’s top five leagues.’
Hitting his stride at the optimum moment as a sprawling La Liga relegation battle pulls in half of Spain’s top-flight.
Former West Ham United starlet Toni Martinez shining in Spain
The aforementioned Taty Castellanos could yet become the lead character in West Ham’s latest survival tale. Martinez, meanwhile, is doing his best to keep Alaves heads above water.
Before that consolation in a tight, and perhaps undeserved 2-1 defeat at the 15-time European Champions, Martinez’s goals had earned Alaves 15 of their 33 points in 2025/26.
Martinez inspired Alaves’ comeback from 3-0 down to beat Celta Vigo 4-3. He also found the net in potentially decisive victories over relegation rivals Levante and Elche.
What changes would you make to this team? Feel free to tell me how wrong I’ve got it 😂
Heading into the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, West Ham are just two points above Tottenham. The former can slip back into the drop zone, too, should they fail to beat Everton and should Roberto de Zerbi end Spurs’ four-month wait for a league victory at an already-doomed Wolves.
If you think things are nervy over here, just take a glance at the La Liga standings. Only six points separate Osasuna in tenth from Alaves in 18th.
But boasting a striker who tends to save his goals for when Alaves need them the most, do not bet against Europe’s ‘most in-form player’ firing his team out of the bottom three when relegation rivals Real Mallorca come to town on Saturday.
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