Emiliano Martinez has claimed leaving Aston Villa for a Champions League team would be “too easy,” insisting he wants to end the team’s trophy drought.
The FIFA award for best goalkeeper was this week added to the prize collection of the Argentine World Cup winner. Martinez, who excelled in the Final match against France in Doha, had been predicted to leave Villa this summer in search of Champions League football.
Emi Martínez: “I didn’t expect to be named as the FIFA best goalkeeper. I told Leo: ‘I’d be happy if you and Scaloni win it’. I’ll come and at least I’m going to eat for free. [laughs]” @gastonedul 🗣️🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/ToDtKyCiZg
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 2, 2023
However, the shot-stopper signed for £20m from Arsenal in September 2020, has suggested he is willing to stay and help new Villa boss Unai Emery land the club’s first major silverware since 1996.
Martinez said: “I want to achieve something that no one achieves or it’s been hard to achieve. People were saying, after the Copa America after the World Cup, Emi is going to go and play Champions League and he’s going to leave.
“And I’m thinking, yeah, that’s the easiest part. You know that that’s easy leaving now to a club playing the Champions League. It seems everything is easy but actually, it was a real challenge for me.
“Winning a World Cup for Argentina after 36 years? Yes. Beating the champions of America after 28 years in the Maracana? Yeah, that was a challenge.
“Winning the final against the champions of Europe was a challenge.
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“And now we need something for Aston Villa after 30 years. That’s a challenge. And that’s something I’m made for – for challenges, for not always having the easy way out.
“We’ve got one of the best managers for winning things in Europe. So I’m up for the challenge.”
Villa, who are 11th in the Premier League, host Crystal Palace on Saturday in their latest season without a trophy.
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