Courtesy: Sky Sports/X
Emiliano Martinez, the Argentina goalkeeper, who plays for Aston Villa in club football, was left in tears after his team secured a comprehensive 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Friday, May 17. Following the big victory, which kept Aston Villa’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) intact for next season, Emiliano Martinez was spotting tearing up at the prospect of playing for Aston Villa at the Villa Park for the last-time, with his exit from the club being on the cards.
It is understood that Emiliano Martinez is linked with a potential move away to the Saudi Pro League despite being on a contract with Aston Villa, which won’t expire until 2029. Notably, after moving to the West Midlands club from Arsenal in 2020, the Argentine has made 211 appearances for them, and during this time, he has won the FIFA’s Best Men’s Goalkeeper award twice in the last three years.
While the tears came flowing down the face of Emiliano Martinez just after the final whistle at the Villa Park, Unai Emery, the Aston Villa manager, tried to play down the situation surrounding the goalkeeper’s future at the club. When asked about the Argentine’s status, he was quoted as saying, as per BBC Sport, “We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don't know. We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”
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Aston Villa involved in five-way battle for UCL spots with just a couple matchdays remaining in Premier League season
Moreover, as far as the battle for the UCL spots are concerned, the win over Tottenham Hotspur ensured that Aston Villa jumped to fifth place in the standings with 66 points to their name, just behind Chelsea and Newcastle on goal difference, although the latter has a game in hand. Manchester City are behind these three clubs by a point in sixth place, while Nottingham Forest are a further three points behind them, both having a game in hand.
With that, the UCL spots are highly likely to be decided on the final matchday of the Premier League season on May 25, with only three out of the four aforementioned teams expected to make the cut.
