Emi Martinez’s preferred choice emerges as three offers tabled for Aston Villa star
Aston Villa stood firm this summer when it came to not allowing Emi Martinez to move to another Premier League rival.
Manchester United were linked with Martinez throughout the summer, but the World Cup winner ultimately ended up staying in B6.
This came despite Martinez’s best attempts to push a Villa exit through with the goalkeeper now understandably in the bad books of the Villa Park faithful.
Whilst Villa fans are waiting for a Martinez apology, they may be glad to hear that the goalkeeper plans on sticking around for the rest of the campaign.
Emi Martinez prefers Aston Villa stay over Turkey or Saudi Arabia move
Previous reports suggest that Villa plan to reintegrate Martinez into the squad despite his antics over the summer.
However, whether Unai Emery immediately reinstates him as the first-choice keeper over Marco Bizot remains to be seen.
Now that the transfer window in England is closed, Martinez’s options are limited if he wants to leave Villa Park before January.
According to reports from TyC Sports on 10 September, however, Martinez has offers from Galatasaray and two clubs in Saudi Arabia on the table, but does not plan on entertaining their approaches.
The 33-year-old is said not to want to join a less competitive league, regardless of the sums of money offered, but instead remain in the Premier League to ensure he has the best preparation possible for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Unai Emery cannot allow Emi Martinez to use this season as a World Cup training camp
With Villa the favourites to win the Europa League this season, Emery and Co. could be on the verge of a historic campaign.
To achieve such a feat, they need their players to be committed, and Villa should be sceptical of Martinez’s commitment to the cause.
Emery simply cannot allow Martinez to play if he is not fully concentrated on the task at hand for the Villans.
Martinez cannot be used based on his reputation alone. As he looks towards next year’s World Cup, he has to be focused on Aston Villa for the season, and it’s the least he can do considering all the club has done for him.
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