Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand have given their take on Man United's decision to overlook Emi Martinez on deadline day
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez(Image: Getty Images)
Former Premier League defenders Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand were both surprised to see Manchester United pursue Senne Lammens instead of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez.
The 33-year-old Martínez was keen to join United, but the Red Devils chose not to make an official approach to Villa, opting instead to target the younger Lammens.
Martínez will now remain at Villa Park, despite being open to a move all summer - a decision that left Liverpool legend Carragher particularly surprised.
“I was expecting Emi Martinez to come in yesterday for Manchester United, just on the back of Unai Emery’s interview before the game against Crystal Palace on Sunday night,” he said. “So I am surprised that hasn’t happened.
“The Belgian lad [Lammens] is obviously a young goalkeeper with great potential and it just remains to be seen how long it will be before he goes into the team.
“I would imagine that would be pretty quickly given the form of the other two goalkeepers at Manchester United.
“But he’s a young goalkeeper and, like we said when Manchester United brought in a young striker in Benjamin Sesko at the other end of the pitch, they will need time, that’s just the nature of the beast, certainly as a goalkeeper as well.
“I think the thing with the manager now is how quickly he puts this young lad in and I would imagine it would be pretty quickly.”
Ex-United man Ferdinand has also questioned why United pursued Lammens instead of the proven Premier League goalkeeper Martinez.
“I’m hearing he’s [Lammens] got huge potential,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. “What I would say is, I was all in on Emi Martinez because I just think that his experience – he’s got the personality, he’s got the character, he plays for Argentina where the pressure is absolutely immense, has won a World Cup, and was one of the major reasons they won the World Cup, saving the final – big moments, man.
“Man United need as much personality as they need ability coming through that door, and I think he fits the bill in that sense completely. I think it’s an area where, at the moment, there isn’t much confidence in the building at all.
“You look at him overall, though, I think he’s been solid for Aston Villa when he’s been there. Like, you - you go there, I’ve been – you wouldn’t have gone obviously because you don’t support him, but I’ve gone and worked games at Aston Villa.
“He’s a cult hero down that place, man. I think he’d be a cult hero at Old Trafford because he is – he’s off his nut, right? And I got a lot of time for players that are off their nut.”
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