Emiliano Martinez was heavily linked with a move away from Aston Villa last summer, but he could not seal a late departure.
Emiliano Martinez was linked with clubs like Manchester United, but the move never materialised. The Red Devils ended up signing Senne Lammens instead. So, Martinez ended up staying at Aston Villa, going on to play his part in the the West Midlands club enjoying an impressive season so far.
The Villans have secured Champions League football for the upcoming campaign, and they are in the final of the UEFA Europa League. It remains to be seen whether they can win their first major final since 1982. Aston Villa have previously won the UEFA Champions League, and winning the UEFA Europa League this time around is another major achievement for the club.
Martinez has now reflected on his decision to continue at the med club, despite strong links with other clubs last summer. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has revealed that he made the right decision to continue with Aston Villa.
He said to Sky Sports, “I say goodbye, and I cry when I left my family in Argentina to go to England as well. And I’m still with my family nowadays. Sometimes football can change; managers can come in and go. In football, people move around the place.
” I have full respect and love for the club, I have a commitment to Aston Villa, I’m a World Cup winner with Aston Villa. I won the Golden Gloves with Aston Villa. I will always and forever love this club. No matter what. One day I’m gonna retire. So someone else will have to be between the sticks.
“I’m in a European final, we are in the Champions League again. With all the circumstances, the ups and downs, the budget that we had this year. We were the lowest spenders in the Premier League, but we got a top coach. We’ve got a top captain. We got a decent core of the team and when we stay together, we fight together, we can beat anybody, so I’m really proud to stay. I made the right choice.”
Will Martinez continue with Villa?
It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa are prepared to continue with him as their first-choice goalkeeper next season as well. He is entering the twilight of his career, and this could be the right time for Aston Villa to replace him with a younger alternative. Villa have shown interest in several goalkeepers, including Robin Risser.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper is unlikely to have any shortage of clubs looking to sign him. The experienced goalkeeper has consistently shown his quality in the Premier League, and he has been a star for his country as well. He has helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup and the following Copa America.
He will look to make his mark in the upcoming World Cup this summer and help his country win the tournament again. But first, the 33-year-old will focus on the upcoming UEFA Europa League final against Aston Villa and help them win a major trophy after decades.