Overview

• With the European window closed, the Argentina goalkeeper remains at Aston Villa on a deal running to 2029 after no agreement was reached with Manchester United.
• Manchester United completed a late move for 23-year-old Belgian keeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp rather than pursuing a permanent deal for Martínez.
• Unai Emery left Martínez out against Crystal Palace and repeatedly named Marco Bizot as his preferred option, underscoring a shift in Villa’s goalkeeping hierarchy.
• Reporting attributes the collapse to Villa rejecting a loan proposal, an asking price reported above £30 million, and the player’s high wages.
• Martínez arrived in Buenos Aires to join Lionel Scaloni’s squad and avoided media at Ezeiza as Villa’s birthday post for him drew angry reactions from sections of the fanbase.