What Emi Martinez’s agent said on his Villa future, relationship with Emery

Emiliano Martinez’s agent has given an interview in Italy, where he has discussed his Aston Villa future and relationship with Unai Emery.

The 30-year-old has established himself as a fundamental figure for us since joining in 2020, going on to make 98 appearances for the club across all competitions.

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His stock has risen significantly in that time both due to his performances for Villa but particularly for his achievements with Argentina, which included a World Cup triumph last year.

He was also named FIFA’s The Best Goalkeeper of 2022 this week, and unsurprisingly with that increase in attention has come speculation over his future at the club.

In various interviews over his time with us, the Argentine shot-stopper has reiterated his love for Villa and how he is desperate to win trophies with us. However, he also hasn’t hidden his ambition to play in the Champions League, something he wants to do with us, but is aware that we’re still not close to that yet.

Subsequently, it has raised the question mark over whether or not he could move on this summer if offers arrive, albeit he does have a contract with us until 2027 and so Villa are certainly in a strong position to fend off any interest or demand a significant fee, depending on which way it goes.

However, in reassuring comments on his client’s future, Martinez’s agent, Gustavo Goni, has given an interview in Italy and has not only dismissed any suggestion that there is a poor relationship with Emery, but he also reiterated what Martinez has been saying about his future and what he wants to achieve with Villa.

While offering criticism and his thoughts on the team as a whole following our defeat to Arsenal earlier this month, Emery did single out Martinez for his decision-making late in that game. That unsurprisingly led to rumours of a rift between the pair, but after Villa posted an insight that dismissed that idea, Goni has echoed the sentiment.

“The relationship with Emery couldn’t be better,” Goni told Sportitalia. “In fact, public statements are one thing, personal statements and the daily report are another. Emery has expressed his desire to keep him in the team, Emiliano is at the centre of the project for a team that aims to participate in the next cups. He is a leader of the group.”

When asked about the possibility of seeing Martinez in Serie A next season, Goni did leave the door open for possible discussions, but the general feeling from what he said is that there is a lot that needs to happen before that becomes a genuine possibility and that his client remains fully focused on Villa.

“Let’s see what happens in the summer,” he added. “Today there are few teams in the world suited to his level, I don’t see more than a dozen. Among them there are also some Italian teams, but obviously it will be necessary to see if they show interest and above all if they find a possible agreement with Aston Villa. He is fine where he is today.

“He would like to play and win the Champions League, let’s hope he can do it with Aston Villa.”

While that’s nice to hear and the ideal scenario would be for Martinez to remain for another year at least for Emery’s first full season in charge where we hopefully move closer to achieving our main objectives, if we fall short of that, then there will always be the question mark hanging over his future.

There is still a lot to play for this season as we hope to finish in the top 10 in the Premier League at the very least, and so it’s hoped that further progression is made under Emery and there is a real foundation and belief that we can kick on next year and achieve big things with Martinez a pillar of the side and project.