04 June 2024 , 08:31
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Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has revealed the brutal way in which former Arsenal manager Unai Emery cut him out of the club's plans.
The World Cup winner appeared on fellow goalie Ben Foster's podcast, Fozcast, to discuss his career so far and how he ended up out of the former manager's plans.
Martinez spoke about the Arsenal "legend" that was Arsene Wenger but admitted that when Emery joined the club, that was when he realised he wouldn't be in between the sticks for the club for much longer.
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Speaking on the podcast, the Aston Villa keeper said: "So Arsene Wenger, the legend, was standing in front of you, you're going to be my number one [but] he was signing me, contract and money wise, like a number two and I was number three.
"[He said] 'Emi look, I give you this because I'm thinking you're going to be my number one'. When he left, I was 23, 24 and then I went on loan to Getafe where I didn't play and then Unai Emery came in and was like sorry mate but you played for Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday, you know, teams that he didn't even know."
Martinez admitted that this conversation "killed him" at this point in his career and he felt that he kept dealing with "obstacles and blocks" being put in front of him. He is, however, now playing the best football of his career under Emery at Villa, with the Argentine playing a vital role in the club sealing a Champions League spot in the season just gone.
The keeper also discussed his enjoyable loan spell at Wolves and how he felt that could be the springboard for him to take over the gloves at Arsenal before he got blindsided on his return to the club.
Martinez said: "I remember when I was good and I had a loan from Wolves, Wolves offered 10 million to buy me - that was long term and it was big money. I thought, you know, I was thinking about it but they were like no, no stay - then they signed Petr Cech - cheers!
"Cech's like one of the best ever goalies in the Premier League so how can I [compete]? It was a massive climb to do it again you know, so I always had blocks in the way."
The Argentina international went out on loan once again to Reading before finally getting his big-money move to Aston Villa in September 2020.
Since then, the keeper has gone on to be a shining star for his nation, Argentina, winning the coveted World Cup trophy in 2022 alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Alexis Mac Allister and Lisandro Martinez - and has established himself as one the best goalies out there.
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