Emi Martinez Transfer Saga Heats Up: Spalletti Admits Keeper Wants to Leave Aston Villa

Aston Villa have been hit with a fresh twist in the Emiliano Martinez saga after Italy manager Luciano Spalletti admitted the goalkeeper is looking for a move away from Villa Park. Spalletti, whose comments to Gazzetta dello Sport have reignited speculation around the Argentine, said: "Dibu Martinez? He's a goalkeeper who wants to change clubs, and we're looking for competitiveness. But we currently have two goalkeepers." Juventus have long been linked with the 33-year-old, and though Spalletti stopped short of confirming a bid, the admission that Martinez is unsettled adds weight to the rumours. The Italy boss also played down the possibility of a quick deal, noting the difficulty of the market and praising the player's quality. Martinez, who joined Aston Villa from Arsenal for £17 million in 2020, is also facing a spell on the sidelines. He played through pain during the 2022 World Cup, but surgery is now unavoidable on an injury that dates back to before Villa's Europa League final win over Freiburg in May. "My hand still hurts every day; I knew it was going to be extremely painful," Martinez said ahead of the World Cup final. "I avoided surgery, even though all the specialists I consulted in the United States and England told me I needed to have it. I couldn't train during the group stage, but from the Round of 16 onwards after Egypt, I stopped thinking about it." Despite the goalkeeper's desire to leave, Villa's stance remains firm. Director of football operations Damian Vidagany made it clear ahead of Argentina's World Cup semi-final against England that Martinez is not for sale. "The goalkeeper's future is settled, he is staying with us, and we have no intention of letting him go this summer," Vidagany told the Express and Star. "All the news about his departure to Juventus does not reflect the club's true position." Juventus appear to have got the message, with their interest reportedly cooling. Between the surgery and Villa's resistance, the most likely outcome is that Martinez remains in Birmingham - even if his heart is set on a move.