Emi Martinez’s ‘weird’ behaviour questioned as Argentina star told antics ‘take away from how good he is’ and stop him being considered among top three goalkeepers in the world

The Aston Villa and Argentina shot-stopper has shown with his performances for club and country that he should be part of that conversation. He landed the prestigious Yashin Trophy in 2023 and FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper award after helping the Albiceleste to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Martinez has also formed part of two triumphant Copa America squads, while helping Villa to a top-four finish in the Premier League and Champions League qualification. A reputation has been earned as one the best penalty-saving goalkeepers around, but the 32-year-old’s antagonistic antics can occasionally lead to less positive headlines being made.

• • WHAT DUNNE SAID

    Former Villa defender Richard Dunne – speaking in association with online bingo site, Heart Bingo – has told GOAL when asked if Martinez is the kind of character that you want in a No.1: “You just want them to be really good! The rest of it, the antics that he gets up to, is probably taking away from how good he is as a goalkeeper. If people didn’t have the other stuff to talk about, he would probably be more talked about as being up there in the top two or three goalkeepers in the world – because he is fantastic.

    “The one thing you always want from goalkeepers is, can they make big saves and can they make them at important moments? He’s proved that he can. He’s been huge for his country and fantastic for Aston Villa. Personally I wouldn’t want them being a bit weird, I would like them to be calm and someone you can rely on and trust, but on the pitch he has been fantastic and you can’t knock him.”

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    DID YOU KNOW?

    Dunne added on Martinez mastering mind games, which are now part of football and a way of winning by any means possible: “You wonder how impactful it is, whether he needs to do it or whether it just motivates him to get that little bit extra, thinking ‘I’ve done this to this guy so I’d better save this or I’ll look a bit stupid’. Whatever he does, he makes saves that you don’t expect and he saves penalties, winning shootouts on his own at times.

    “He’s such a big fella as well, he’s so imposing, that I’m sure he is intimidating to players coming up against him. It’s one of those things – if it works for you, keep doing it. It’s working for him, whatever he’s doing, so he just has to keep going with this style of play.”

    • TELL ME MORE

      Martinez has signed a new contract at Villa through to 2029, but bids were tabled for him over the summer and questions of whether he will stick around on a long-term basis remain. Dunne added when asked if another top-four finish is required in order to keep key men happy: “He’s another player that other clubs, the biggest clubs in Europe, will be looking at. If he has a good season in the Champions League, then his stock will rise again.

      “Villa need to be competing near that top four or top six to keep players of that ilk interested and playing for them. He wants to play at the top of his game and now that’s the Champions League, so it’s important that Villa try and get back into it.”

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      WHAT NEXT?

      Martinez has stated that he prefers a challenge, rather than an easy ride, and is eager to deliver long-awaited silverware to Villa Park. He remains a regular for his country and will be hoping to help them defend a global title at the next World Cup in 2026.