Overview

• Aston Villa defeated Roma 4-0 in a Walsall friendly, with Buendía, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins scoring and Martínez keeping a first-half clean sheet under his captaincy.
• Buendía marked his return from Bayer Leverkusen with a free-kick goal and an assist as he vies for a regular starting role under Unai Emery.
• Villa have rebuffed Manchester United’s proposed loan deal for Martínez and continue to hold out for a permanent fee in line with their €35–40 million valuation.
• The win sets the stage for a friendly at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome on Saturday, where Villa will aim to refine tactics and squad cohesion.
• Buendía’s standout performance after recovering from a knee injury bolsters his fitness credentials and strengthens his case for an Argentina recall.