With that in mind, ex-Villa striker Heskey - speaking exclusively to GOAL via Betinia - said when asked if Martinez is likely to get the new challenge that he thought was going to be taken on a year ago: “I think so. Especially when you believe it should have been done last summer. I think so. But a fantastic goalkeeper as well. You've got to take your hat off to him. Goalkeepers are a different breed of people and he definitely is.”
After seeing Martinez seemingly wave goodbye as the 2024-25 campaign came to a close, Villa boss Unai Emery said when asked if ties were about to be severed with a proven Premier League performer: “We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don't know. We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”