Manchester United were close to securing Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before ultimately signing Andre Onana.
Emiliano Martinez was on the verge of joining Manchester United before they ended up signing Andre Onana to be their new number one. While talking to ESPN, his agent Gonzalo Goni revealed that the World Cup-winning goalkeeper had the opportunity to join the Red Devils, and he even stated why the transfer did not go through.
David de Gea, who was the Manchester United number one for over a decade, left the club last summer after his contract ran out. His departure meant they needed a new shot-stopper, and Erik ten Hag’s team ended up signing Andre Onana from Inter Milan.
He had played under the Dutch manager back in the day at Ajax and was his first choice in goal at Old Trafford last season. But, before they ended up signing the Inter goalkeeper, the Red Devils were keen on signing Martinez. His agent talked about how he came very close to joining Manchester United. But in the end, the coach preferred having Onana in his team.
Goni said, “Last year he was very close to Manchester United, the coach chose Onana, because he already knew him. But everyone at Manchester United later maintained that the ideal goalkeeper to win was Emiliano Martínez.”
Martinez has done wonders for both club and country in recent years. He has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has often been linked with a move to a bigger club. Gone was asked if his client ever had an opportunity to join a bigger club, and he responded by talking about a failed move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2023.
He mentioned the fact that people at Manchester United were quite keen on having him in their squad. But it was Ten Hag’s preference for Onana that resulted in the move to collapse. Matinez’s agent claimed that United feet the Argentine international would have to be the ideal goalkeeper for them to win.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper had 15 clean sheets in his 47 outings, while Onana kept 13 clean sheets in 51 appearances. The Manchester United number one conceded 83 goals while Martinez only let in 61. Given what the 31-year-old has achieved on the international stage and his recent performances for Villa, he surely could have been a great signing.
