As he smiled for photos with his wife, Amanda, and their children, Emiliano Martinez’s eyes reddened.
He took pictures, maybe captured souvenirs, in front of supporters following Aston Villa’s final home match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.
The goalkeeper smiled and in a typical Martinez manner, bathed in the adulation of a fanbase who adore him. His presence, since signing from Arsenal nearly five years ago, has helped spearhead Villa’s transformation with his high-level performances and magnetism.
To many supporters, he is a symbol of belief, even after the hardship of playing in the lower leagues and routinely being written off throughout his career. As former Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said — something echoed by sources close to the dressing room, speaking on condition of anonymity — Martinez has “insecurity disguised as arrogance”.
The sight of Martinez at full time provoked concern. The 32-year-old was in tears, wiping away at his eyes with his gloves on before appearing to wave goodbye.
This was a realisation that this would likely be his final bow at Villa Park, his last time in front of a crowd who revelled in his showmanship and goalkeeping excellence. It would not be surprising if he was in a similar state at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“We are focused on the matches we are playing,” said Unai Emery, when asked about the futures of Martinez and Leon Bailey, who had also been wiping his eyes. “It’s the last match here. But I don’t know.
“We are going to play in Manchester for the last three points and it will be important to prepare and to focus everybody. After that, we will see about everything in how we are going to get better for next season.”
Emiliano Martinez is a huge favourite of the Villa fans (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Even if the tears suggested a finality for Martinez, there remains no agreement for him to move elsewhere. No decision has been taken. However, the general direction of travel, speaking to close observers, indicates a transfer is the most likely scenario.
Invariably, this has caused consternation among supporters. Wary that the peril of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) could lead to Martinez’s departure, a fundraising page was created over the weekend to generate sufficient funds to ensure the Argentina international stays at the club. Ambitiously, a target of £5.2million ($7m) was set.
Internally at Villa, PSR has often served as a lightning rod for anger as it has threatened to stifle progress. Villa have valuable assets in their playing squad and will likely need to sell one before June 30, the end of the Premier League’s financial year. Two years ago, when Villa were in a similar predicament, the sale of Martinez was discussed as a last resort before the club decided to move on talented youngsters to balance the books instead. Last summer, Douglas Luiz was the fall guy, moving to Juventus when cash needed to be raised quickly.
It is not lost on senior figures that when Chelsea and Manchester City had money to invest in the first decade of the 21st century, they could do so more quickly in a pre-PSR era. Considering the prices they are being charged and the growing cost of season tickets, losing Martinez feels incongruous for Villa supporters.
Sources close to the players say Martinez’s future has been a talking point within the dressing room. There is interest from across Europe and the Saudi Pro League.
Martinez is one of the players that Saudi Arabian clubs have interest in. Sources close to the player insist no talks have taken place this year, having received Saudi interest in 2024. Yet intermediaries with close links to Saudi football say the 32-year-old is part of recruitment conversations. The nature of Saudi Pro League transfers means there are long chains of command between decision-makers and they prefer to decide on their list of targets early.
Martinez and his family are settled in the Midlands, with his wife Amanda running businesses in England. He stuck by Villa when he was at the peak of his powers after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win and could have pushed to move then.
There are some doubts if his family would want to move to Saudi Arabia and whether Martinez would enjoy such a different atmosphere and competitive level — having repeatedly said his priority is to win football’s biggest trophies. This opens up the possibility of a move to a European club, though most, if not all, premium sides have long-standing No 1s.
Villa are succession planning. It is around now that Emery and his close circle will discuss a list of player targets and positions being sought. This is when a general outline of how the summer will be shaped, discussing incomings and potential departures.
Espanyol’s Joan Garcia has been mooted as a younger replacement for Martinez. After Arsenal’s firm interest 12 months ago, the 24-year-old’s stock has risen in his first full season in La Liga. Garcia has a €25m (£21m; $28m) release clause that could rise to €30m if he is called up to the Spain national team or if Villa — or any other club — wish to sign him in the final 15 days of the window.
Martinez has won the previous two Yashin Trophy awards, given to the world’s best performing goalkeeper. This is not to be confused with The Best FIFA Goalkeeper, but Martinez also holds that prize. It was only last August that Martinez signed a new contract until 2029, so he would fetch a commanding fee if he were to move on, taking into account his pedigree, age and high salary, which is more than any other permanent member of Villa’s squad.
A mural of Martinez near Villa Park (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
That final point is pertinent. Reducing the wage bill and removing Martinez’s salary from the books would alleviate the pressure on complying with UEFA’s PSR limits, which restrict spending on “player and coach wages and transfers and agent fees to 70 per cent of the club’s revenue” from the 2025-26 campaign onwards. Last season, Villa filed a record wage bill, with 91 per cent of turnover spent on player salaries — the worst of any Premier League club.
The World Cup winner is a forthright but sensitive personality. In simple terms, he enjoys the love furnished upon him — this includes being introduced as “the world’s No 1” by Villa Park’s stadium announcer every time he steps foot on the pitch.
He wants and asks for the pre-match atmosphere to be cranked up, forming an important part of his mental and physical preparation. There is a feeling that Martinez has to be 100 per cent to perform at his optimal, which is why high-pressure matches bring the best out of him.
Martinez possesses an ego required to perform in pressurised environments and to reach the heights he has. This can jar at times, but Emery has always previously afforded him scope to act in this way.
There has been a gradual splitting up of Villa’s South American and Spanish friendship group. Martinez formed part of the social circle with Emiliano Buendia, Diego Carlos, Alex Moreno, Douglas Luiz and Philippe Coutinho, all of whom have left permanently or on loan. Their wives also spent a lot of time together.
Martinez is a modern Villa legend. He has formed the spine of Emery’s era and forged a bond with supporters.
But the tears were Martinez recognising this is most likely the end, having mapped out his next steps. In the weeks ahead, this could be a reality fans will have to get used to.
(Top photo: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)