Emiliano Martinez has now shown his true colours after the Aston Villa star was not snapped up in the summer transfer market amid Manchester United’s interest.
The Red Devils were on the hunt for a new shot-stopper in the summer and Emiliano Martinez had emerged on Manchester United’s transfer radar in the window.
However, a move to Old Trafford failed to materialise after United snubbed Martinez and the Red Devils chose to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on Monday.
United completed the move for Senne Lammens before the window shut, with the Red Devils agreeing an initial fee of £18.1m to sign the former Royal Antwerp star.
Martinez, who had been tipped to leave Villa Park in the summer, had been identified as an alternative to Lammens if United failed to sign the Belgian.
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Former Manchester United target Emiliano Martinez reacts during the friendly match between Villarreal and Aston Villa in 2025 in Villarreal, Spain.
Photo by Omar Arnau/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni speaks out about Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez not signing for Man Utd
It had been reported that Emiliano Martinez wanted to remain in England if he left Aston Villa and Manchester United were seen as his key destination in the summer.
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The 33-year-old Argentine shot-stopper had been linked with clubs in both Turkey and Saudi Arabia amid the Red Devils’ interest in Martinez in recent months.
Martinez has been called up for Argentina duty during the September international break and manager Lionel Scaloni has now touched on the 2022 World Cup winner.
Speaking ahead of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier vs Venezuela on Friday, Lionel Scaloni said that Martinez has been upbeat after his United move didn’t happen.
“I saw Emiliano doing well… in the end, his transfer didn’t happen, but yesterday [2nd September] was his birthday and I saw him happy, he looked good,” he explained, as per Goal.
“Obviously, he must have been excited about playing for Manchester United, as they said, but he’s a positive kid who’s already thinking about us and returning to his club, which is what he needs to think about. But I saw him doing well.”
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Former Man Utd target Emiliano Martinez now faces an uncertain future at Aston Villa, despite one message from Lionel Scaloni
Martinez was not part of the Villa squad that suffered a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace at Villa Park ahead of the September international break.
Unai Emery played Marco Bizot between the sticks last weekend, but Lionel Scaloni still has faith about Martinez’s club future ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
“We’ll wait and see what happens, because he’s losing continuity,” he added.
“Why should I worry now? Why should I get ahead of myself? It’s true that we’re interested in them playing.
“I understand that if he stays, everything will continue as normal, but it’s not my decision. We’ll see what happens…”
Former United target Martinez is under contract at Villa Park until 2029 and the Argentina international has made 213 appearances for the Premier League club.