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Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, was reportedly on the verge of joining Manchester United last summer, his agent confirmed.
The Red Devils were in the market for a new number one following the departure of David de Gea. However, they ultimately opted for Andre Onana, reuniting him with head coach Erik ten Hag.
Despite Onana’s familiarity with the Dutchman, some within the club later believed that Martinez would have been a better choice.
Gonzalo Goni disclosed to ESPN Futbol 12 that Martinez was “very close” to sealing a move to Manchester United.
However, Ten Hag’s preference for Onana, whom he knew from their time together at Ajax, swayed the decision in favor of the Cameroonian goalkeeper. “Last year he [Martinez] was very close to Manchester United, [but] the coach chose Onana, because he already knew him,” he stated.
It makes sense that Ten Hag’s acquaintance with Onana had a role in the signing of the player. However, the agent claimed that many at the club later felt Martinez would have been a better goalkeeper to help the team succeed.
Because of his great play for Aston Villa and the Argentine national team, the 31-year-old holds high esteem; this reported praise only reflects that.
How has Emiliano Martinez fared so far?
Since joining Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020, Martinez has developed into one of the world’s top goalkeepers.
Over 159 appearances for Villa, he has kept 54 clean sheets, showcasing his consistency and reliability.
In the previous season, Martinez was in exceptional form, recording 15 clean sheets in 47 appearances across all competitions. The veteran also played a crucial role in Villa’s fourth-place finish in the Premier League, securing a Champions League spot.
Martinez has also been pivotal for Argentina, especially during their 2022 World Cup triumph. His heroics in penalty shootouts, including the Copa America quarterfinal against Ecuador, have cemented his…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ten-hag-vetoed-deal-for-messis-argentina-teammate-agent-says/
Author : Martina Alcheva
Publish date : 2024-07-07 16:04:30
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