Emiliano Martinez's family have spoken out on the goalkeeper's failed transfer to Manchester United in a saga that saw him remain at Aston Villa.
Martinez was expected to leave the club this summer after four years, and cut an emotional figure as he broke down into tears when seemingly waving goodbye to fans after Villa's last game of the season last summer.
He had appeared set to join United, and the two clubs were in discussions right until the end of the window, when no move materialised and he instead stayed at Villa Park.
'I was told that Emi gave a lot as a professional and as a person, they love him, and you could see that on the pitch,' Martinez's brother, Alejandro, told DSports Radio 'He is well-liked, and the directors didn't want to sell him because he is the key player in the team, and another team wanted him. It was that commercial dispute.
'These are decisions made by club officials. It didn't happen, but it's like everything else in business. The sporting side of things was left out of it, and everything is fine.'
Marco Bizot has started two of Villa's three games in the Premier League so far this season.
'Emi never had an argument with Unai,' Alejandro added. 'It was all within the management's control, and the clubs couldn't agree.
'At Aston Villa, he's the Diego [Maradona] of Napoli. He gave a lot at Villa, like Kun [Agüero] did at City, like Leo [Messi] did at Barca. They're legendary players, and it's going to be hard to surpass what he did at Aston Villa.'
Martinez's father, Alberto, meanwhile, added: 'This is a job, this is a factory, and factories have employees. He's just another employee, and the factory won't let him go if he's good. It's all business. Tomorrow it will happen, today it didn't happen.'
Repbcelmrz
0
aseci
Repbcelmrz
2
Asencin
Cakcdekyz
2
too expensive for an older player.. Villa wants to scam MU..
Cekabcpsy
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Emi did very well not to have gone to Man U. He's better off at another club. Nothing to talk about at Man U
Whichever your club is, you're just jealous of Manchester United's success. Go eat load of your shit and hang yourself in hell afterwards for all I care. Emi is a world-class goalkeeper but he is already old and won't suit the Amorin's system because Amorin is on a rebuilding mission.
luwacdkptu
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This isn’t the first transfer that did not materialize for whatever reasons so I don’t know why everybody is making it a big deal it is business and if one club thinks it’s not a good move in their favour then that’s just how it goes because that’s just business. Transfer window is gone now so move on simple as that can’t dwell on what could have been
@Everblessed10 it's a big deal cause EMI really wanted MUFC, his family wanted it. This guy is from South America, most times it's 1 guy that takes care of the family and sometimes the neighborhood. United is a big ticket, one of the biggest in football which means bigger on all levels.
Smithzenden
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thank God the deal didn't materialize
Everblessed10
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This isn’t the first transfer that did not materialize for whatever reasons so I don’t know why everybody is making it a big deal it is business and if one club thinks it’s not a good move in their favour then that’s just how it goes because that’s just business. Transfer window is gone now so move on simple as that can’t dwell on what could have been
nuscdmopuy
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Emi did very well not to have gone to Man U. He's better off at another club. Nothing to talk about at Man U
sirbodmas
3
Hope he will have a good season now that Aston Villa decides to keep him
ducaeiluyz
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United was wrong
Dohalmnotu
2
yah he's right there at Aston villa that goalkeeper is too forward he celebrates stepping on other players toes no matter how happy you are you must respect your colleagues i hope he retires there at Aston villa that's the team that suits him
dougiefresh
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If I may ask what have he done at villa that you are comparing him to that of Maradona of Napoli, Messi of Barcelona and Aguero of Man city?
good question
PrinceAbobyBlinkz
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If I may ask what have he done at villa that you are comparing him to that of Maradona of Napoli, Messi of Barcelona and Aguero of Man city?