Emi Martinez left red-faced after transfer deadline day demand brutally ignored

Manchester United have opted to sign Senne Lammens in their hunt for a new goalkeeper, leaving Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez frustrated after he demanded an exit from Villa Park

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been left red-faced after Manchester United decided not to move ahead with signing the Argentina international – despite telling his club he wanted to join the Red Devils.

Martinez has been cast aside by his manager Unai Emery this season and has been strongly linked with an exit in this transfer window, especially after the arrival of new shot-stopper Marco Bizot.

The World Cup winner has only appeared once this season in a 1-0 loss against Brentford, having been suspended for Villa’s first game of the season against Newcastle. Bizot took the No.1 jersey for the 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace.

With Martinez sidelined at Villa, he reportedly informed club chiefs he was keen on securing a move to Old Trafford in his bid for regular minutes this season.

It is a World Cup year and Martinez will want to ensure he plays week in, week out to give himself the best chance of remaining Argentina’s first choice keeper at the 2026 World Cup in North America.

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United have also been weighing up a move for Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp after his emergence as one of Europe’s most promising young keepers.

And Lammens appears to be the goalkeeper United have opted for after they agreed a deal worth around £18m to sign the 23-year-old.

Lammens is set to pen a five-year deal at Old Trafford and is travelling to Manchester to complete the move, meaning Martinez has been left disappointed after being snubbed.

Reports from Sky Sports claim that United looked at other goalkeeping options, including Martinez, but felt that Lammens was the best fit and the right choice for the club in the long-term. He will challenge for the No.1 jersey after high profile errors from both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir this season.

For Martinez, he looks set to sit on the sidelines for at least for the first part of the season – unless he can secure a last-minute deadline day move elsewhere.

The 32-year-old has played 213 games for Villa since joining from Arsenal in 2020 but Emery says the player is “not focused” and the uncertainty is not helping the squad.

“We need players who are focused, 100%. He wasn’t. It’s not helping us. It’s one of the circumstances that we are having now not helping.

“Tomorrow the window finishes and we are expecting something to improve our squad. Keep calm. One of the circumstances is Emi Martinez, we will see tomorrow and then we try get the balance and work after the break.”

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