Emiliano Martínez is an emotional man. He often acts on the call of his heart, sometimes with wild passion, and sometimes with tears. But it’s rare to see Martínez with wet eyes. After Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, fans still cherish the image of him celebrating on the field with tears in his eyes. Last night, Aston Villa supporters witnessed a similar moment. After the final whistle, Martínez wiped his eyes with his left hand once. It was clear he was struggling to hold back tears as he applauded the crowd with wet eyes.
Villa Park saw the hosts beat Tottenham 2–0 last night. This win pushed Aston Villa to fifth place in the Premier League table, strengthening their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. But all discussion about this was overshadowed by Martínez’s tears. On social media, some have questioned the reason behind his emotion, while others hinted at a possible farewell—could this have been Martínez’s last home game for Villa?
The 32-year-old goalkeeper signed a contract extension with Villa last August, keeping him at the club until 2029. From that perspective, it wouldn’t seem likely for him to cry after the final home game this season. However, earlier this month, the Mail Online reported that Villa might sell Martínez to comply with Premier League financial rules. Argentine outlet TyC Sports said Martínez has offers from Saudi Arabia, as well as two major European clubs, though the names remain undisclosed. TyC Sports also reported that Martínez would likely reject the Saudi offer for sporting reasons, leaving only the European clubs as potential destinations.
According to Transfermarkt, Martínez is currently the 10th most valuable goalkeeper worldwide. TyC Sports added that he is unlikely to join any league lower than the Premier League. Reports from the Mail Online and Telegraph suggest that Villa are planning a squad overhaul for next season, with Spanish goalkeeper Juan García from Espanyol reportedly a top candidate to replace Martínez.
Argentina’s Clarín reported that Aston Villa coach Unai Emery has given the green light to selling Martínez. After last night’s match, Emery declined to give any promises about Martínez’s future at the club, saying, “Let’s see what happens. Of course, this was the last match (this season) here [at Villa Park], and honestly, I don’t know.”
Martínez joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020 for £20 million. Since then, his fortunes have turned dramatically. He earned a call-up to the Argentina national team, won the Copa America twice, as well as the World Cup and the Finalissima. He was also named the best goalkeeper of the 2022 World Cup. But at Arsenal, his time was mostly spent waiting. After joining the club’s youth team in 2010, he made his senior debut two years later but played just 15 games over eight years, spending most of his time out on loan.
At Villa, Martínez finally got regular playing time and showed his love for the club. In March 2023, when Tottenham showed interest, he made it clear he was happy at Villa and had no intention of leaving. His performances were vital in helping Villa qualify for the Champions League and reach the quarterfinals this season. So, it’s understandable that the club’s decision to possibly sell him has brought tears to his eyes.
Martínez has played 211 games for Villa. Although he has yet to win a trophy with the club, he has earned unwavering love from the fans. He has played over 18,000 minutes and kept 69 clean sheets for the club.
Currently, Villa sit fifth in the Premier League with 66 points from 37 matches. Chelsea are fourth with 66 points but a better goal difference, and Newcastle United are third, also on 66 points but from one less game. If Martínez must leave his beloved Villa, he will surely give his all in the final league matches to secure that Champions League spot for the club.
