Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made his Premier League debut against the Red Devils 11 years ago.
Nowadays, Emiliano Martinez is renowned as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.
There was a time when he was overlooked by Arsenal and that didn’t seem to be the case or even likely.
In recent years, Martinez has won the World Cup with Argentina and he now stars in Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side, which competed in the Champions League last season.
The rumours are heating up regarding Martinez’s future, with United understood to be monitoring his situation at Villa Park.
That raises questions about the future of Andre Onana at Old Trafford.
The Cameroon international has struggled to perform in his first two seasons at United, while Altay Bayindir could be on the move in search of regular game time.
AS Monaco are understood to be interested in Onana as well as other goalkeepers.
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Meanwhile, Edwin van der Sar has urged United to support Onana and back him into the new season.
Wayne Rooney taking on Arsenal
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Man Utd XI for Emiliano Martinez’s Premier League debut
After coming through the youth ranks at Independiente and Arsenal, Martinez made his Premier League debut against United.
Martinez enjoyed loan spells at Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolves, Getafe and Reading before securing a permanent switch to Aston Villa.
It was at Villa where Martinez established himself as one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers. Martinez now finds himself linked with a move to United, the very team he made his Premier League debut against 11 years ago.
United won the match 2-1 thanks to an own goal from Kieran Gibbs and a strike from Wayne Rooney. The Gunners pulled one back in the fifth minute of stoppage time through Olivier Giroud, but it wasn’t enough to force a comeback.
On the 12th matchday of the 2014/15 season, Louis van Gaal named the following XI to face Arsenal, who had Martinez as a debutant between the posts: De Gea; Blackett, McNair, Smalling; Carrick, Fellaini, Valencia, Shaw; Rooney, Di Maria; Van Persie.
Arsene Wenger named the following line-up: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsay, Wilshere; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez; Welbeck.
Little did Martinez know that 11 years later he would be linked with a move to United at the age of 33.
Martinez tasked with Edin van der Sar feat
If Martinez joins United this summer, he will be tasked with doing what Van der Sar achieved during his time at Old Trafford.
Van der Sar joined United from Fulham at the age of 34 and went on to prove age is only a number by becoming one of the club’s best ever goalkeepers.
That will be Martinez’s job if he signs for the Red Devils this summer.