Emi Martinez New Aston Villa Contract
One of the cornerstones of Aston Villa’s rise under Unai Emery is undoubtedly the goalkeeper that every Argentina and Villa supporter hails as the World’s Number One. Securing Emi Martinez’s services until 2029, with a renewed and extended contract, sends a clear message: Aston Villa aren’t messing around anymore.
While much of the football media continues to focus on the so-called ‘Big Six’ or ‘Big Seven’, they seem to forget that it was Aston Villa who secured a Champions League spot last season—and the squad looks even stronger now.
Frankly, we don’t care what the media thinks. More importantly, the 31-year-old Argentina international, who has kept 48 clean sheets in his 145 Premier League appearances for Villa, is central to changing the mindset of the club’s own supporters. Ambition and the desire for higher standards, that were once dismissed as ‘moaning’ by some supporters, is now being replaced with a universal belief across the supporter base, as Martinez helps instil the notion that there are no limits to what the club can achieve.
The timing of the new contract is intriguing. Ordinarily, such an extension would have been completed before the season began. Perhaps some player transfers needed to occur first to ensure compliance with UEFA’s rule that clubs in their tournaments keep player wages below 80% of the club’s income. If that’s the case, it shows the fine margins Villa are working within to remain compliant.
Martinez’s public announcement at Aston Villa’s revamped club store today was clear: not only is he happy at Villa, but his desire is to win silverware with the club.
“I feel that the club is moving forward every year,” said Martinez, to the gathered season ticket holders and press. “I have achieved everything as an international for Argentina and I still think that we can win a trophy here. I will have a go in the next five years and see if we can achieve that.”
Emi & Unai
Remember those original clickbait stories that Martinez might clash with Unai Emery due to their time together at Arsenal? Those stories now seem laughable.
“I became the best in the world here and I want to continue developing myself,” said Martinez. “I’ve got an amazing goalie coach and an amazing manager.”
In short, Martinez views Emery as essential to his ambition of winning a trophy with the club.
“I love it here, but I wouldn’t stay if I didn’t see progress, because I want to achieve things,” he emphasised. “It’s always possible when you’ve got the manager we have. He reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with Villarreal, he won four Europa Leagues and he’s taken Villa to the Champions League for the first time.
“It’s going to be new for us but when you’ve got players and managers like that, you can go all the way.”
Martinez also highlighted some immediate areas for improvement for the team to make to allow Villa to match the Top Four finish of last season and make a fist of the Champions’ League.
“There are a lot of improvements; we conceded a lot of goals and that’s something we need to reduce,” Martinez reflected.
“I’m doing a lot of work with Javi and Unai, and if we can reduce that we have a better chance of getting into the top four and winning a title. That’s something that’s been missing for a long time and that fans really want.”
UTV
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