£16m Aston Villa star to 'fight' to join Barcelona and Liverpool hero this summer

Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez plans to hold talks with the club about allowing him to represent Argentina at the 2024 Olympic Games.

The 31-year-old is back in South America for the summer and will be representing Argentina at the Copa America this summer which is being held in the United States. Argentina are the defending champions and Martinez is all but certain to feature because he is recognised as their number one.

Martinez is proud of his country and he doesn't want Copa America to be the only tournament he participates in this summer. The Olympic Games in Paris are coming up and the goalkeeper wants to represent Argentina in France.

“I want to be at the Olympics," said Martinez to Argentinian broadcaster TyC Sports.

"It’s not up to me — Aston Villa blocked me several times. It’s not completely closed yet but I have to fight a little more with the club. I always put the national team first..

"I know that I have to fight a little bit more with the club, it’s not 100 per cent done but from my part, it is a wish that I have, that I want to win the Olympics. It’s not obligatory for the club to let a player leave to play in the Olympics, I know that my club has not let any player go, they blocked everyone.

“[It is] A small chance, but I always put the national team in front and if I have to fight a little more with the club, I will, but first is the Copa America.

“It’s very difficult to fight with the club now because for us, the most important is to win the Copa America. Then comes the Olympics, and it is a personal wish of mine and to win the trophy.”

Former Barcelona, Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano has already named his preliminary squad and it does not include Martinez. Brighton & Hove Albion's Valentin Barco is the only inclusion from the Premier League with there being no players over the age of 23, despite being permitted.

Argentina's Olympic Games schedule consists of games against Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine which will take place from between July 24 and July 30, with two matches taking place in Décines-Charpieu. Aston Villa will be touring the United States of America at the same time as the Olympic Games. They face Columbus Crew, RB Leipzig and Club America on a tour that starts on July 27 and finishes on August 3.

The club have already denied both Luca Digne and Moussa Diaby from representing hosts France at the Olympic games. Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is manager of Les Bleus and he named his squad this week which included Premier League Chelsea's Lesley Ugochukwu and Crystal Palace duo Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise.