Ruben Amorim’s wish to bring World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez to Manchester United was reportedly thwarted by the club’s board, as they would only sanction a loan move for the Aston Villa keeper
Ruben Amorim didn’t do enough to convince Manchester United to sign Emiliano Martinez over the summer, it has been claimed. Despite an encouraging performance in Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal, United have something of a keeper crisis.
Andre Onana has made a catalogue of errors since his arrival from Ajax two years ago, while Altay Bayindir has failed to convince in his fleeting appearances and was at fault for the Gunners’ goal when he flapped at a corner.
It’s been clear for some time that United need a new stopper and Amorim is a big fan of Martinez, 32, who has played a key role in Aston Villa’s success under Unai Emery. Despite signing a new contract last year, the Argentine looked set to leave Villa after appearing to say an emotional goodbye to fans at the end of last season.
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At the time, Emery was non-committal over Martinez’s future, merely saying “we will see”. That appeared to leave the door open for a raid from United, who could have landed the World Cup winner for a fee of around £40million.
However, United have reportedly seen an approach to sign Martinez on loan rejected by Villa. Amorim’s plea to sign the player outright was not supported by the United board, which has instead backed the head coach with attacking signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
Argentine outlet TyC Sports reports that a deal to bring Martinez to Old Trafford was ‘very close’. They added that Amorim ‘could not convince’ the board to splash out on a keeper with Onana still on the books and would only sanction a loan move. Villa, meanwhile, had agreed to let Martinez go, but for only for the right price.
While United appear to have made strides following their shambolic 2024/25 campaign, which produced the club’s lowest league finish in half a century, their goalkeeping issues could undermine their progress. Following the Arsenal defeat, Amorim jumped to the defence of Bayindir, suggesting he could keep his place for Sunday’s game at Fulham.
Amorim said of the Gunners’ goal: “You’re allowed to do a lot of things in the corner, we need to do the same. When you touch that way, the goalkeeper, he needs to use his hands to catch the ball, not push players, or he chooses to push players and let the ball past.
“It is the rules, it is allowed and we need to do the same thing. No (I’m not saying he should have acted differently), I am saying you choose to push a player or to get the ball. He chose to get the ball, but he’s getting pushed, so he cannot defend it.”
Last season, Bayindir conceded directly from a Son Heung-min corner in a 4-3 Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham, but Amorim rejected criticism of the Turkey international when asked if he had considered starting third-choice Tom Heaton against a team renowned for their threat from corners.
Amorim added: “He suffered a goal like this, where? Against Tottenham? It was without VAR. With VAR it was a foul.
“Then, in the next game against Arsenal, who saved the penalty? Who saved the game? You don’t remember the game but I remember the game and Altay was unbelievable in that game. I considered everything to put in one or another and I chose Altay. I am happy with the three goalkeepers.”
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