Emiliano Martinez says he has no regrets about staying at Aston Villa after transfer speculation threatened to end his journey at Villa Park last summer.
The Argentine goalkeeper was heavily linked with a move away from the Midlands following emotional scenes during Villa’s final home game of last season, where he appeared tearful while acknowledging supporters.
Interest reportedly arrived from several clubs, including Manchester United, but no deal materialised before the transfer window closed.
Instead, Martinez remained Villa’s undisputed No.1 and has once again played a crucial role in the club’s impressive campaign, making 43 appearances and keeping 13 clean sheets as Villa prepare for their first European final since 1982.
Reflecting on the emotional speculation and his decision to remain, Martinez made his feelings toward the club crystal clear.
“I say goodbye, and I cry when I left my family in Argentina to go to England as well. And I’m still with my family nowadays,” Martinez said.
“Sometimes football can change; managers can come in and go. In football, people move around the place.
“I have full respect and love for the club, I have a commitment to Aston Villa, I’m a World Cup winner with Aston Villa.
“I won the Golden Gloves with Aston Villa. I will always and forever love this club.”
The 2022 World Cup winner believes Villa’s rise under Unai Emery proves he made the correct decision by staying despite uncertainty surrounding the squad and the club’s budget limitations.
“No matter what. One day I’m gonna retire. So someone else will have to be between the sticks.
“I’m in a European final, we are in the Champions League again. With all the circumstances, the ups and downs, the budget that we had this year.
“We were the lowest spenders in the Premier League, but we got a top coach.
“We’ve got a top captain. We got a decent core of the team and when we stay together, we fight together, we can beat anybody, so I’m really proud to stay. I made the right choice.”
Villa’s remarkable season has turned belief into reality, with the club now competing among Europe’s elite once again.
Martinez’s leadership, experience and mentality have been central to that transformation as supporters dream of another historic night on the continental stage.
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