Exclusive: Stan Collymore makes bold Emi Martinez admission as Aston Villa 'legend' point made
Aston Villa icon Stan Collymore has made a controversial claim about Emiliano Martinez.
Stan Collymore believes Emiliano Martinez is an Aston Villa legend despite trying to force a move to Manchester United during the recent transfer window.
Martinez spent Deadline Day waiting for a phone call from United that never came after agreeing personal terms with the Manchester club. The Athletic reported after the window closed that Martinez had spoken to United manager Ruben Amorim on several occasions and even enlisted the help of United defender - and Argentina teammate - Lisandro Martinez.
In the end, Martinez never got his dream transfer to Old Trafford as the Red Devils signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp instead. There won’t be a move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia, either, so Martinez will stay until at least January. There could be quite an awkward feeling with both his teammates and the fans as a result.
Collymore: Emi Martinez considered Villa legend
Collymore, who played 60 times for Villa between 1997 and 2000, thinks there’s still a way back for Martinez at Villa Park. Collymore recognises the way the two-time Yashin Trophy recipient handled the recent transfer window wasn’t great but thinks his stature can help him recover.
“Yeah it's not ideal,” Collymore told Birmingham World, via NewBettingSites.uk. “Does he owe Villa anything? No. I think he'll go down as a Villa legend. I'm not a fan of some of his antics for club and country, but it is what it is.
“In terms of him as a goalkeeper, he's been exceptional for Aston Villa. I think he genuinely has an affection for the club. I was at the last game of the season and he walked past the Holte End and the tears were flowing and he was making sure that people knew that he was off… or he thought he was off.”
Martinez’s behaviour ‘shoddy’, says Collymore
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows as Collymore recognises that Martinez’s actions were unprofessional, and he can see why they have hurt supporters. Collymore still thinks the World Cup winner can be forgiven in time, though, as long as past mistakes aren’t repeated.
“I think that when you get a season starting and a player doesn't play for whatever reason around a transfer then that's really shoddy. So I think his behaviour is shoddy. Villa fans think his behaviour is shoddy,” Collymore admitted.
“But he needs to get his head down now and do what he does best, which is keep out goals. So I'm sure he'll get an opportunity in the next game to do that and I'm sure that he's got a lot of currency in the bank because of what he's already done for Villa.
“You'd like to think that Villa fans will forgive and forget but if he does it a second time, I don't think they’ll be quite so forgiving.”
It awaits to be seen whether or not Martinez will be thrown straight back in the mix for Villa as Unai Emery was unsurprisingly peeved with his goalkeeper. Marco Bizot started in Martinez’s absence for the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace and he could play again if Emery decides it’s best for Martinez to sit out for a while longer. Time will tell.