- Emi Martínez’s deal to Juventus is now looking unlikely
- Aston Villa are holding firm on their valuation, which Juventus don’t want to pay
- The Italian club may choose to pivot to other targets, such as Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario
Emi Martínez’s potential move to Juventus has now been described as “unlikely” after Aston Villa hold firm on their valuation of the World Cup winner.
According to a definitive update from Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio, negotiations have hit a roadblock. Despite a week of dialogue and an agreement on personal terms between the player and the Italian giants, the deal is rapidly fading due to Villa’s uncompromising financial demands.
Unai Emery and the Villa hierarchy rightfully don’t want to lose Martínez for less than they think he is worth. He has been instrumental to their transformation over the last few years and is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Financial stumbling block
The core issue halting the deal is Villa’s valuation. The Premier League side has established a minimum price tag of €10 million (£8.7 million) for the 33-year-old. While a €10 million valuation is a relatively modest figure for a keeper of Martínez’s pedigree, the structure of the deal has proven to be the ultimate dealbreaker for the Bianconeri.
In addition to the fixed €10 million fee, Villa have dug their heels in by demanding “hard-to-reach” performance add-ons. Juventus, operating under heavily constrained financial fair play restrictions after failing to secure a lucrative Champions League spot for the upcoming season, views these bonus clauses as economically unviable.
Personal terms count for nothing
The breakdown in club-to-club talks comes as a massive disappointment to Martínez, who had already given his green light to the move. Reports earlier this month indicated that the Argentine had agreed to a three-year contract keeping him in Turin until June 2029. He even offered to take a slight pay cut, settling on a salary of roughly €5.5 million net per season.
However, as is often the case in football transfers, agreeing on personal terms means very little when the selling club holds all the leverage. Let’s also not forget that Emery is keen for him to stay, and would only sanction his departure if a suitable offer arrived, which has not yet happened.
Villa are not in a position where they have to sell to comply with the financial rules. They can sell other players to fund new signings.
Juventus to pivot to other targets
With the Martínez deal rapidly fading, Juventus have turned to other targets. Di Marzio’s updates confirm that they actively revived their interest in Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario as a direct alternative. If they deem the price too high, then they may look at Napoli’s Alex Meret.
As things stand, it looks increasingly unlikely that Martínez will depart Villa Park for Juventus this summer. Other clubs may come in for him later down the line, but for now, he looks set to stay, which will probably come as good news for Villa supporters.
ReadAstonVilla verdict
Ultimately, retaining Martínez is a massive victory for Villa as they embark on another demanding campaign. Having an elite, world-class presence between the sticks provides Emery’s side with indispensable leadership and defensive stability that money simply cannot buy.
Villa are entirely justified for holding their ground; a World Cup winner should never be sold at a discount just to accommodate Juventus’ financial shortcomings. If they are that desperate for the Argentine, then they should pay what Villa demand.
