Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez is being linked with a summer switch to Manchester United, and the Argentinian has already had his say on two potential team-mates
Amid growing rumours suggesting Emiliano Martinez will leave Aston Villa this summer, Manchester United have entered the fray as a potential destination. And the Argentina No. 1 is a big fan of at least two players he could call his team-mates next season.
Speculation is rife that Martinez, who has four years remaining on the five-year contract he signed in 2024, is heading for the Villa Park exit. Reports point to major interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia, while Atletico Madrid and United are also touted as contenders for his signature.
World Cup-winner Martinez, 32, was visibly emotional following Villa’s last home game of the Premier League campaign, a 2-0 win over Tottenham. And he appeared to hint at a possible exit when questioned about his future after that result, saying: “Of course, it is the last match [of the season] here, and I don’t know.”
But he could find at least two familiar faces at Old Trafford in Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho. The stopper won the 2022 World Cup alongside Martinez, while Garnacho was part of the same Argentina squad that clinched the Copa America last year.
And Martinez is seemingly a big fan of both players, describing namesake Lisandro as an “animal” following their famous win in Qatar almost three years ago. The defender was still in the early days of his United tenure when he won the biggest honour in the sport, but helped form part of the same back line that pipped France to the prize.
It was just a few months later that Lisandro then got his hands on the League Cup, his first title in English football. And Villa ace Martinez was among the first to congratulate his compatriot as he commented on a celebratory Instagram post simply: “Wins everywhere.”
Madrid-born Garnacho only made his debut for Argentina in June 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 friendly win over Australia. But it quickly became apparent Martinez was impressed by the winger, and not simply due to his on-ball ability.
“He is a very humble guy. He came to work; he didn’t talk a lot,” he told TyC Sports. “He is very eager to play. The truth is that he’s a little treasure and I hope we can mould him so that he gives us as much as Angel Di Maria.”
There’s a chance the trio will come into contact on Sunday when United host Villa in their last game of the season. Unai Emery’s side are still chasing qualification for the Champions League as they sit sixth, while a move up to 14th is the best finish United can hope for.
Martinez, 27, won’t play a part in the fixture after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in February, while Garnacho’s status is uncertain. United boss Ruben Amorim dropped the forward for Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to Spurs, with the Daily Mail reporting Garnacho has now been told he can leave this summer.
That could mean Martinez only finds one of his countrymen in common should he move to Manchester in the coming months. And Emery himself has hinted there could be departures amid a swell of interest in Villa’s in-demand stars after a superb campaign.
“It is difficult for the team, it has been difficult for some players,” he told reporters ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. “I was struggling five months ago with not enough results we achieved in that moment. But now I am so so happy with the individual responses of the players, how the team is focused in each match – as well some players with some speculation.”
Andre Onana has struggled to inspire support among United fans since reuniting with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag two years ago. That has led to speculation that the Red Devils could be set for another change of guard between the posts, though United may struggle to beat the competition given their lack of European football next season.
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