Aston Villa are anticipating offers for World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez this summer but are under no pressure to sell the Argentina star.
Martinez dropped a heavy hint about his future in a recent interview when he said: ‘I have the feeling that today I have the level to play in the Champions League and try to win it.
‘I would like to win a title with Aston Villa. You should never lose hope. I would like to [win the Champions League] with Aston Villa, but it will be difficult because the club is still in its growth phase.’
Yet Martinez’s immediate future is out of his hands. The 30-year-old signed a new five-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022, which catapulted him into Villa’s top wage bracket. Given the length of his deal, Villa hold the cards and billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have the financial clout to resist offers.
Ultimately, the decision on Martinez’s future will fall to boss Unai Emery, who has more power than any Villa manager since Martin O’Neill. Should the Spaniard believe there is a goalkeeper who suits his style of play better than Martinez, it would open the door to a sale though at this stage Martinez is Emery’s clear first choice and has captained the team in John McGinn’s absence.
Martinez was given the Golden Glove award for the best keeper at the World Cup after a succession of fine displays, including a crucial save from France forward Randal Kolo Muani at the end of extra-time in the Final, with the score at 3-3. Despite his bizarre antics during Argentina’s successful shoot-out and after the Final, he returned from the tournament with his reputation greatly enhanced.
Speaking in December, his agent Gustavo Goni told Italian media: ‘He’s a great goalkeeper, the best in the world. Not many clubs could afford a goalkeeper like him. Serie A clubs? Well, why not. Clearly he’s aiming high, at the Champions League.’