Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has broken his silence on the dramatic transfer saga involving goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, whose proposed deadline day move to Manchester United ultimately collapsed in the final hours of the window.
In an exclusive revelation, Emery confirmed that the World Cup-winning Argentine shot-stopper had indeed been angling for a switch to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag desperately sought reinforcements between the posts.
The Deadline Day Drama Unfolds
Emery disclosed that negotiations reached an advanced stage as United explored options to address their goalkeeping concerns. However, the Villa hierarchy stood firm on their valuation of the 31-year-old, effectively blocking what could have been one of the summer's most surprising transfers.
'The situation was clear,' Emery stated emphatically. 'We have our project and we need important players. We need to keep some players who are sometimes maybe thinking about leaving if a very good offer appears.'
Villa's Stance on Player Retention
The Spanish tactician emphasized the club's commitment to maintaining their core squad, particularly after qualifying for the Europa Conference League. Martinez, who joined from Arsenal for £20 million in 2020, has developed into one of the Premier League's most consistent goalkeepers and remains crucial to Villa's ambitions.
Emery's revelation confirms weeks of speculation linking Martinez with United, who ultimately signed Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce as backup to Andre Onana rather than pursuing a direct replacement for the departed Dean Henderson.
Martinez's Current Situation
Despite the failed transfer attempt, Emery insists the relationship between player and club remains strong. Martinez has since returned to training and is expected to feature prominently as Villa embark on their European campaign.
'When we are starting the season, we want to keep the best players possible to be competitive,' Emery explained. 'We decided to keep him because we are going to need him.'
The Villa boss acknowledged that top players naturally attract interest from elite clubs, but stressed the importance of maintaining squad stability for their European ambitions this season.
