Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez looks set to stay at the club.placeholder image
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez looks set to stay at the club. | Getty Images
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was close to moving in the summer
Aston Villa have had a difficult start to the new Premier League season and will be looking for improvement after the international break.
Villa will also continue the new season with Emiliano Martinez after the Argentina goalkeeper’s prospective move to Manchester United fell through in the final hours of the transfer window. The Red Devils instead opted to sign Senne Lammens on deadline day and 33-year-old Martinez was forced to return to Villa Park with his tail between his legs.
Martinez ‘snubbing’ moves to Turkey and Saudi Arabia
Reported by Sport Witness, Martinez is set to remain at Villa Park and reject the opportunity to move to either of Turkey or Saudi Arabia, where the summer transfer window is still open.
The Turkish Super Lig sees their transfer window close on Friday, September 12, with champions Galatasaray reported to have made an approach to Martinez. The Saudi Pro League window remains open for business for a little longer, until September 23. Likewise, the report states that Martinez has received several lucrative offers from the Middle East but is said to be ‘refusing to entertain offers’.
The thinking behind this is believed to be that in a World Cup year, Martinez wants to best prepare himself for competing with Argentina next summer by continuing to test himself against the very best in the Premier League. While he may have been open to the opportunity to do this with Man United, he is expected to stick around at Villa Park and force his way back into Emery’s side.
‘Absolute winner’ - Marco Bizot glad Martinez staying at Villa
It may come as surprising reading that experienced shot-stopper Bizot is pleased Martinez is set to stay at Villa Park.
He said in an interview with Dutch website Voetbal Primeur: "He (Martinez) is someone who, in a way, is similar to other South Americans I've met or worked with: they're very temperamental people who experience football at a completely different level. He does that too. He's an absolute winner: every challenge he receives, from a training session or a friendly to a final: he always wants to win.
“Some people can handle that, others find it strange or arrogant. But as players, you know: the image the outside world has of someone has nothing to do with how they are every day, at the breakfast table or in a meeting. The outside world has a completely different image than you have as a colleague. I've experienced that more often in my career, while it's often judged by a single moment: one match, one clumsy action.
“But we're all human, there's so much more to it. As a colleague, Martinez has been a fantastic guy from day one. He's helpful, incredibly nice, and I think we understand each other very well. In fact, we've had a good connection and bond from day one. So I'm happy he's staying.”
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