- Unido hierarchy have little trust in Onana
- Have initiated negotiations with Villa
- Red Devils eager to snap up the Argentine keeper
De acuerdo a Gaston Edul, United have made Copa del Mundo-winning goalkeeper Martinez a top priority. The Argentine, who has been a standout performer for both club and country in recent years, is said to be high on the wish list of United manager Rúben Amorim. Discussions between United and Villa are currently underway, though no final agreement has yet been reached.
After five successful years with the Midlands club, the 31-year-old seemed poised for a new challenge this summer. Martinez even bid an emotional farewell to supporters at the end of last season, which has fuelled speculation that his time at Villa Park was coming to an end. At one point, financial pressures tied to the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) had suggested Villa might be open to parting ways with some of their stars. However, the recent sale of the club’s women’s team has eased those concerns, giving them greater leverage in negotiations.
Despite limited opportunities to showcase his ability, when called upon, Altay Bayindir has shown little to suggest he could challenge for a permanent starting role. The feeling internally at United is that both goalkeepers are dispensable if suitable offers come in. However, the situation has been complicated by Onana sustaining a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of pre-season and potentially the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.
Despite the ongoing speculation, Martinez has rejoined Villa’s squad for pre-season training. Manager Unai Emery included him in the group that is preparing for a series of amistosos, beginning with a clash against Walsall, followed by trips to Alemania and the United States. It remains to be seen whether Martinez will still be a Villa player by the time those fixtures take place, but his professionalism is not in doubt.
