Emiliano Martinez sparked tensions with France ahead of Aston Villa’s Champions League quarterfinals match against Paris Saint-Germain by wearing a handmade headgear featuring Argentina’s previous international triumphs.
French newspaper L’Equipe dubbed Martinez a “specialist in provocation” after the goalkeeper’s antics in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final victory over Les Blues.
Martinez played mind games with France players during the penalty shoot-out and was part in the taunting of Kylian Mbappe during Argentina’s World Cup title celebrations. The 30-year-old also made an obscene gesture when earning the Golden Glove trophy at the World Cup final.
He is expecting to encounter a hostile reception when Aston Villa face PSG at the Parc des Princes, as he arrived in Paris wearing a baseball cap with World Cup, Copa America, and Finalissima emblems covering the French cockerel. Reported by independent News.
Unai Emery, who is returning to the Parc des Princes for the first time since his two-year stint as PSG manager, said he is unconcerned by Martinez’s behavior during the quarter-final first leg, describing the goalkeeper as “mature” and “responsible”.
“He is more mature, he is a better player and goalkeeper. Now my conversation with him is always the same: ‘Focus on football and your individual challenge and you have and try to control the emotion it is bringing to you’.
“Of course Emiliano Martinez is a very important player for us, he is one of the best players in the world, the best goalkeeper in the world, he got the award for it in Paris.
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