Exclusive: Aston Villa star send message to Unai Emery as has ‘heart set’ on joining giants Club, transfer days away
Emiliano Martinez Eager for Atletico Madrid Move Amid Aston Villa Exit Rumours
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is reportedly determined to join Atletico Madrid during the upcoming summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider. The Argentine shot-stopper has set his sights on the Spanish capital, expressing a strong desire to secure a move to Atletico, despite interest from other clubs, including Premier League giants Manchester United.
Both Atletico Madrid and Manchester United have formally expressed interest in acquiring the services of the World Cup-winning goalkeeper, whose future at Villa Park has become increasingly uncertain in recent weeks. Martinez has shared with close friends that Atletico is his preferred destination and is hoping to finalise a move in the coming weeks.
The speculation around his departure intensified after Football Insider revealed on May 22 that Martinez is open to leaving Aston Villa, having recently enlisted the services of super-agent Jorge Mendes. The 32-year-old goalkeeper is now represented by Mendes’ prestigious Gestifute agency, a sign of his intent to engineer a high-profile transfer. Previously, Martinez was under the management of Universal Twenty Two.
Martinez’s potential arrival in Madrid comes as Atletico prepare for potential changes in their goalkeeping department. Current No. 1 Jan Oblak is attracting significant attention from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, prompting Atletico to explore top-level replacements should Oblak depart. Despite also receiving interest from Saudi clubs, Martinez has rejected those overtures, stating his desire to continue competing at the highest level in Europe.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are under pressure to offload at least one major player before the end of June. On June 18, Football Insider reported that the club must complete a big-name sale within the next 12 days to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Failure to meet these regulations by the June 30 financial deadline could result in sanctions, including a possible points deduction.
Villa’s president of football operations, Monchi, is working urgently behind the scenes to ensure the club meets the PSR threshold. Among the candidates for a lucrative departure are Martinez, midfielder Youri Tielemans, and Belgian international Amadou Onana. However, insiders believe Martinez is currently the frontrunner to be sold due to the high interest in his services and the potential fee his sale could command.
Adding further fuel to the fire, former Villa Park chief scout Mick Brown has revealed that Manchester United are expected to ramp up their pursuit of Martinez. The Red Devils are reportedly looking to bolster their goalkeeping department ahead of the 2025-26 season, and Martinez is one of their top targets.
Martinez has been a pivotal figure for Aston Villa since joining the club from Arsenal in a £20 million deal in 2020. Over the past five seasons, he has cemented his place as one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalkeepers. During the 2024-25 campaign, Martinez kept an impressive 16 clean sheets in 53 appearances across all competitions. His performances played a crucial role in helping Unai Emery’s side reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and secure a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
In other news, Aston Villa are preparing to fend off interest in attacking sensation Morgan Rogers. The club is reportedly keen to retain the young England international, despite growing interest from Arsenal. Rogers joined Villa in January 2024 from Middlesbrough in a £15 million transfer and quickly established himself as a key player. The 22-year-old ended the season with an outstanding 14 goals and 15 assists in 54 matches, and the club remains “confident” he will stay at Villa Park for the foreseeable future.
As the transfer window heats up, Villa’s focus appears to be balancing financial regulations with the need to keep their strongest squad intact — though the departure of Emiliano Martinez may prove too tempting, or too necessary, to resist.