Emi Martinez family speak out on failed Man Utd transfer

The family of Emiliano Martinez have spoken publicly about his failed transfer to Manchester United, which saw the goalkeeper remain at Aston Villa.

Martinez’s brother Alejandro told DSports Radio: "I was told that Emi gave a lot as a professional and as a person, they love him, and you could see that on the pitch. He is well-liked, and the directors didn’t want to sell him because he is the key player in the team, and another team wanted him. It was that commercial dispute."

"These are decisions made by club officials. It didn’t happen, but it’s like everything else in business. The sporting side of things was left out of it, and everything is fine," he added.

Martinez’s father Alberto gave a blunt assessment: "This is a job, this is a factory, and factories have employees. He’s just another employee, and the factory won’t let him go if he’s good. It’s all business. Tomorrow it will happen, today it didn’t happen."

Martinez was close to joining Manchester United in the final hours of the transfer window, but negotiations faltered, in part due to player swap complications involving Jadon Sancho.

Manchester United eventually signed goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp instead, leaving Martinez to continue at Villa, where he remains a pivotal figure.