Emi Martinez is facing an uncertain future after his proposed move to Juventus collapsed.
The 33-year-old Argentine has become a World Cup winner while playing for Aston Villa, and has twice been voted the world’s best goalkeeper.
Yet as Villa prepare to start the new Premier League season at Brighton on Sunday, Martinez finds himself in limbo again, with his replacement about to arrive.
Zion Suzuki is due to join from Parma for about £30m to become Villa’s new No 1, despite Martinez’s move to Juventus collapsing.
Juve turned their attention to Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario, who is moving on loan with a non-mandatory £8.6m option to purchase.
That makes him slightly cheaper than Martinez, with Villa holding out for closer to £10m.
Sources in Italy told BBC Sport the only reason the deal did not happen was because the clubs could not agree a fee. There were no doubts over Martinez’s fractured finger, which he sustained in the warm-up before Villa’s Europa League final win over Freiburg in May.
That is despite the goalkeeper, who has a contract at Villa Park until 2029, admitting at the World Cup he had been struggling with the injury. Villa have been open to selling Martinez, who joined from Arsenal for £17m in 2020, but it was not down to any doubts about his ability.
The club were eager to lower the average age of their squad, and – with Martinez one of the top earners – also needed to address their finances.
The Premier League’s transfer window closes on 1 September but Martinez has had previous interest from Saudi Arabia, where the window is open until 12 October. The deadline in Turkey is 4 September.
Credit: bbc.com
