Headline: Emi Martinez’s Future in Question as Juventus Move Falls Through
Emi Martinez is currently facing uncertainty following the collapse of his proposed transfer to Juventus. The 33-year-old Argentine goalkeeper has garnered acclaim as a World Cup winner while playing for Aston Villa and has twice been recognized as the world’s best goalkeeper.
As Aston Villa gears up for the new Premier League season, set to kick off against Brighton on Sunday, Martinez finds himself in a precarious situation. The club is on the verge of signing his replacement, Zion Suzuki, who is due to join from Parma for approximately £30 million, thereby becoming Villa’s new number one despite Martinez’s unsuccessful move to Juventus.
Juventus has shifted its focus to signing Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario, who is moving to the Italian club on loan, including a non-mandatory £8.6 million option to buy. This makes Vicario a more affordable option than Martinez, with Villa reportedly holding out for at least £10 million for their star goalkeeper.
Reports from Italy indicate that the only reason the deal failed was due to the clubs not reaching an agreement on the transfer fee. There were no concerns about Martinez’s fractured finger, an injury he sustained during the warm-up prior to Villa’s Europa League final victory over Freiburg in May. Despite the injury, which Martinez acknowledged he had been managing during the World Cup, he remains under contract at Villa Park until 2029.
Aston Villa has been open to selling Martinez, who joined the club from Arsenal for £17 million in 2020, but this decision is not a reflection of any doubts about his skills. The club aims to reduce the average age of its squad and is addressing financial requirements, especially following a summer of significant player sales, including Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne.
Martinez’s departure would serve dual purposes for the club, allowing them to bring in Suzuki, who will be turning 24, and providing a potential long-term solution as their starting goalkeeper.
This development comes in light of statements made a month ago by Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, who expressed confidence in Martinez’s future with the team. Vidagany emphasized the goalkeeper’s importance to the team dynamics and their plans for the upcoming season, dismissing the rumors surrounding his transfer.
However, with the need to resolve Martinez’s situation soon, Villa faces crucial decisions ahead. The Premier League transfer window closes on September 1, while international windows in Saudi Arabia and Turkey remain open until October 12 and September 4, respectively.
This situation isn’t the first instance of Martinez being linked with a move away from Villa. Last summer, interest from Manchester United emerged, but the decision was made to invest in attacking players instead. Ultimately, Martinez stayed and played a pivotal role in leading Villa to their Europa League triumph, ending a 30-year trophy drought. Still, that historic victory could have marked his last appearance with the club.
Emi Martinez is facing an uncertain future after his proposed move to Juventus collapsed.
The 33-year-old Argentine has become a World Cup winner while playing for Aston Villa, and has twice been voted the world’s best goalkeeper.
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Yet as Villa prepare to start the new Premier League season at Brighton on Sunday, Martinez finds himself in limbo again, with his replacement about to arrive.
Zion Suzuki is due to join from Parma for about £30m to become Villa’s new No 1, despite Martinez’s move to Juventus collapsing.
Juve turned their attention to Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario, who is moving on loan with a non-mandatory £8.6m option to purchase.
That makes him slightly cheaper than Martinez, with Villa holding out for closer to £10m.
Sources in Italy told BBC Sport the only reason the deal did not happen was because the clubs could not agree a fee. There were no doubts over Martinez’s fractured finger, which he sustained in the warm-up before Villa’s Europa League final win over Freiburg in May.
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That is despite the goalkeeper, who has a contract at Villa Park until 2029, admitting at the World Cup he had been struggling with the injury.
Martinez helped Aston Villa boss Unai Emery win his fifth Europa League in May [Getty Images]
Villa have been open to selling Martinez, who joined from Arsenal for £17m in 2020, but it was not down to any doubts about his ability.
The club were eager to lower the average age of their squad, and – with Martinez one of the top earners – also needed to address their finances.
The need for Villa to sell this summer – with Morgan Rogers leaving for Chelsea £117m, and Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne also sold – has been well documented as they look to comply with the financial rules of both Uefa and the Premier League.
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Martinez’s departure would have ticked two boxes, especially with Suzuki due to turn 24 on Friday. Villa view Suzuki as someone who can be their No 1 for 10 years.
The developments come a month after director of football operations Damian Vidagany said he expected Martinez to stay.
“The goalkeeper’s future is settled. He is staying with us, and we have no intention of letting him go this summer,” Vidagany told 365 Scores.
“The team needs his efforts and extensive experience, and he is a very important element in our project for next season.
“All the news published by the media about his departure to Juventus does not reflect the club’s true position. Martinez is a very important player for us, and we expect him to continue delivering his outstanding performances alongside his team-mates.”
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Yet Villa now must find a route out for Martinez, or leave an expensive asset out of the team.
The Premier League’s transfer window closes on 1 September but Martinez has had previous interest from Saudi Arabia, where the window is open until 12 October. The deadline in Turkey is 4 September.
This, of course, is not the first time Martinez has been close to leaving Villa, after interest from Manchester United last summer.
Ruben Amorim wanted Martinez but was overruled by the United hierarchy who opted to spend more money on their forward options – including £62.5m on Matheus Cunha and £65m on Bryan Mbeumo – feeling it was a better long-term investment.
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Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was signed instead from Royal Antwerp for about £18m.
Martinez stayed and helped Villa lift the Europa League, ending a 30-year trophy drought. But that famous night in Istanbul could have been his last for Villa.
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