Tim Vickery says the talk in Argentina is that Emiliano Martinez wants to ‘leave’ Aston Villa amid interest from Manchester United for his services.
The South American football expert made it clear, on a number of occasions, that Emiliano Martinez ‘isn’t unhappy’ at Aston Villa, it’s just a case of wanting to take that next step in his career and play in the Champions League, as he told talkSPORT.
Given that he is 30 and he just helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, then Villa fans can’t blame him for wanting to play with and against the elite.
Unai Emery has done an outstanding job in the Midlands, including guiding them to the Europa Conference League last season, despite replacing Steven Gerrard in November when they were hovering above the relegation zone.
Villa’s next aim is to look forward and try to get into the Champions League, but let’s be honest, we aren’t there yet and might not be for the next few years, even though there is a world class manager in our dugout.
Therefore, you couldn’t blame Martinez for wanting to take a shortcut and going to a team that needs a number one right now, and with David de Gea’s contract at Old Trafford running out on July 1, then Erik ten Hag needs a new shot-stopper.
Nonetheless, this is what Vickery had to say about Martinez and his future.
“It has come out in Argentina that he would like to move,” said Vickery. “Not that he is unhappy with Villa. But you can understand why he is a man in a hurry.
“He’s 30. I know goalkeepers can go on a long, long time. But he spent an age kicking his heels at Arsenal or being loaned out, here and there.
“He is now a global celebrity. He is the man who won the World Cup. But he’s 30. If there is someone there who could offer him Champions League, and so on, then I think he would really want to take that.
“Not that he is unhappy at Villa, but tick, tick, tick. I am 30. What am I going to do now?”
Will Manchester United sign Martinez?
The Villa Park faithful certainly don’t hope so because he is such a vital cog in our wheel and a key reason why the team is back in Europe.
But Football Transfers have reported that Manchester United are to battle Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea for Martinez’s signature.
Moving to Old Trafford right now is understandable because of where the club is at, but moving to Chelsea, who aren’t even in Europe right now, wouldn’t sit well with fans.
Yes, they might push ahead of Villa next season, but the fact of the matter is that Emery’s side are looking ahead and the best way to remain ahead is to keep those behind you where they are, not help them out by allowing one of your key players to join them.
