Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez could be set to join Manchester United on deadline day, but he believes the club have gotten rid of a 'little treasure' in Alejandro Garnacho
Emiliano Martinez (C) of Argentina looks on from the bench during a friendly match between Argentina and Costa Rica at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on March 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Emiliano Martinez believes Alejandro Garnacho is a 'little treasure'(Image: Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images)
Emi Martinez believes that Manchester United have sold a "little treasure" in Alejandro Garnacho.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper was omitted from Unai Emery's matchday squad on Sunday as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The boss confirmed he wasn't "focused" on the fixture amid speculation over a potential transfer to Old Trafford.
Whilst Ruben Amorim insists that he's content with his goalkeeping options of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, momentum is building around the World Cup winner making an eleventh-hour switch to Manchester.
However, Martinez won't be thrilled that the Portuguese boss has parted ways with one of his international colleagues, following Garnacho's £40million switch to Chelsea. When the young winger earned his first Argentina cap in June 2023, the goalkeeper was full of praise for Garnacho's qualities both on and off the pitch.
Chatting to TyC Sports at the time, he said: "He is a very humble guy. He came to work; he didn't talk a lot.
"He is very eager to play. The truth is that he's a little treasure and I hope we can mould him so that he gives us as much as Angel Di Maria."
Manchester United's Argentinian midfielder #17 Alejandro Garnacho (C) takes the ball around Aston Villa's Argentinian goalkeeper #01 Emiliano Martinez.
Martinez has previously praised the former Manchester United winger
Whilst Martinez might be saddened by Garnacho's departure from the club he could potentially join in the coming hours, he still has a recognisable face ahead of him in United's defence.
During Argentina's memorable World Cup triumph in 2022, the heroic goalkeeper branded Lisandro Martinez an "animal", as the duo helped their nation claim their third golden trophy - and their first since 1986. The defender has been absent from the United squad with a cruciate knee ligament injury since last season, but is aiming for a comeback to action following the international break.
Meanwhile, the Villa goalkeeper could provide the solution to Amorim's goalkeeping dilemma, as both current shot-stoppers have struggled to win over supporters and pundits since the campaign began.
Onana has featured just once for the Red Devils this term, in the disappointing penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup. Whilst the goalkeeper did stop one penalty, he was unable to prevent two goals from finding United's net during normal time, and has subsequently been benched in favour of Bayindir again.
Altay Bayindir & Andre Onana of Manchester United look on prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC at Stamford Bridge on May 16, 2025 in London, United Kingdom.
Onana and Bayindir have failed to impress so far
The Turkish international has been selected for all three of United's Premier League fixtures, but his performances thus far have not inspired much confidence.
Bayindir has let in four goals across three matches, including a brace from newly-promoted Burnley on Saturday. Speaking about the potential departure of his first-choice goalkeeper, Emery remained as evasive as possible as he simply mentioned Martinez's replacement, Marco Bizot, repeatedly to journalists.
When pressed further regarding the 32-year-old's unavailability, he added: "He was not available. Tomorrow is the deadline, and we will see how we finish. We need the players focused and 100 per cent.
"He wasn't. We will see tomorrow. I cannot tell anything more. I don't know, this is the reality. We will see tomorrow." Royal Antwerp keeper Senne Lammes has also been linked with a late deadline day move to United.