Emiliano Martinez has revealed that former Chelsea captain John Terry helped convince him to make the move to Stamford Bridge after leaving Aston Villa this summer.
The Argentina international completed his switch to Chelsea after several seasons at Villa Park, bringing an end to a successful spell in the Midlands. Martinez has now explained that a conversation with Terry was influential as he considered taking on the challenge of wearing the famous Chelsea shirt.
Terry is already familiar with Martinez from his own time at Aston Villa, where the former England international worked as part of the coaching staff. That relationship gave Martinez an opportunity to speak directly with one of Chelsea’s greatest-ever players before making his decision.
According to Martinez, Terry’s perspective helped underline what it means to represent Chelsea and the expectations that come with playing for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs
He said: ‘I remember using the 26 on loan a few times with previous clubs, and of course I knew John Terry famously had the 26 here.
‘John was someone I spoke to before I joined, and he said he was over the moon to have me here. From our time together at Aston Villa, he knows how hard I work and what I can bring to Chelsea. JT really helped me with my decision.
‘The morning I signed, I texted him and said, “I’m wearing your shirt, and I’m going to do it with pride.”‘
MARTINEZ IS BRILLIANT SIGNING FOR CHELSEA
Martinez offers something CHELSEA have arguably lacked in recent seasons: proven experience and leadership in one of the most important positions on the pitch. The goalkeeper has performed on the biggest stages with Argentina and Aston Villa, demonstrating that he is comfortable dealing with pressure when the stakes are highest.
His personality could be just as valuable as his ability between the posts. Martinez is an extremely confident character who demands high standards from those around him. For a relatively young Chelsea squad, having an experienced goalkeeper willing to take responsibility and organise the defence could make a significant difference.
There is also little doubt about Martinez’s ability to produce decisive moments. His performances for Argentina have shown that he can make crucial saves when his team needs him most, while his penalty-saving record has become a defining part of his reputation.
CHELSEA are building a squad capable of competing for major honours, and Martinez gives them a goalkeeper who understands exactly what that pressure feels like.
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