Aston Villa welcomed one of their most important players back into the fold after a summer-long transfer saga with Manchester United
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez following the Premier League match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez following the Premier League match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
(Image: PA)
Shay Given believes Aston Villa completed a ‘really good deal’ by managing to retain the services of Emi Martinez.
The Argentine was linked with a move to Manchester United through the whole summer and right until the transfer deadline looked like he might leave Villa Park.
However, United opted for a younger option in Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens and Villa kept their talismanic goalkeeper.
Martinez returned to the starting line-up for yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Everton and not only kept the team’s first clean sheet of the campaign but did so with a superb performance before gesturing his affection for the club to the away fans at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
And speaking on Match of the Day Given, himself a former Villa ‘keeper, was fulsome in his praise.
“It was big news, wasn't it? Transfer deadline day looked like he might have been going to the Old Trafford or elsewhere perhaps, but again, I think he's showed why he's been voted the best goalkeeper in the world a couple of times.
“He brings real presence to the team, he's got that confidence about himself.
“The save of the match off [Michael] Keane is a brilliant save onto the bar, it's world class from Emi Martinez, and it's a big reason they wanted to keep hold of him.
“You see his reaction at the end, because I was wondering what the Villa away fans would be like after because I don't know if he wanted to leave or the club wanted to sell him for financial reasons, but it's a really good deal they've kept hold of him and he's showed again today how good he is.”
Is Martinez’s reputation as good as it ever was with Villa fans? Have your say here
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