‘He’ll be a big loss’ – Emi Martinez in tears as he waves goodbye to fans after Aston Villa’s final home game
EMI MARTINEZ broke down in tears as he waved goodbye to Aston Villa fans after the victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
The Villans ended their last home game of the season with a 2-0 win over the North London side.
Martinez, 32, kept a clean sheet in the match against the Europa League finalists.
But at the end of the game, there was little celebration from the Argentine goalkeeper.
The Villa star could be seen teary-eyed as he applauded the home crowd.
The former Arsenal ace has been linked with a move away from Villa Park with Saudi Arabia touted as a possible destination.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said: “What a signing he has been.
“Amazing player, great goalkeeper, but it looks like he was waving goodbye.
“Trying to find someone to fill that void will be very difficult.”
Roy Keane insisted that he would be a “big loss”.
He added: “He has been a good character, some people like him.
“He can be annoying at times with some of his antics.
“But he has been a great signing for them, he’ll be a big loos as it does look like he his saying his final goodbyes.”
Manager Unai Emery was asked about the goalkeeper’s future in his post-match press conference.
The Spaniard was unable to give any assurances that Martinez would be at the club next season.
He said: “We will see.
“Of course, it is the last match (of the season) here, and I don’t know.
“We will see about the team, the players.
“Of course, they are responding on the field, at the moment they are responding and they are so, so focused in how we are preparing and playing each match.”
Martinez has been ever-present in the Villa team since his £20million switch from Arsenal in 2020.
He joined the club after only a few months of regular first-team football in the Premier League.
He has since gone on to become one of the best goalkeepers in world football and won the World Cup in 2022.
The goalkeeper was also awarded with the Yashin Trophy in 2023 and 2024.
Martinez also posted on Instagram a picture of himself looking emotional as he waved to the supporters.
He captioned a post: “Thank you for all your support this season.
“We finished strong at home but we got one more final to go.”
Emery also mentioned Leon Bailey who was also in tears at the full-time whistle.
He added: “Of course, Leon Bailey is playing now less because other players are responding very well. They are performing well.
“And we are going to play Manchester United for the last three points. And for us it will be very important again, to prepare, to be focused everybody.
“And of course, then we will see about everything, how we are going to try to get better for the next season.”