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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Keeper's stock has soared</li><li>Linked with leading clubs</li><li>Wants top-four finish at Villa</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

‘Too easy’ – Why World Cup winner Emi Martinez has shunned marquee transfer in favour of Aston Villa stay

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Aston Villa

The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-world-cup-winner-emi-martinez-smile-back-thanks-lionel-messi-aston-villa-silencing-doubters/blte07babd2ea210b11" target="_blank">enigmatic goalkeeper</a> helped Argentina to Copa America glory in 2021, before <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/world-cup-winner-emi-martinez-chaos-qatar-penalties-completing-football-messi/bltd426f476b0075b8c" target="_blank">claiming a global crown</a> alongside Lionel Messi in Qatar a year later. His <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/emi-martinez-wins-2023-yashin-trophy-as-the-world-s-best-goalkeeper-after-world-cup-heroics-with-argentina/blte413e88ee64b6d96" target="_blank">stock has soared</a> on the back of international exploits, to the point that he has been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/weston-mckennie-emi-martinez-transfer-makeweight-juventus-usmnt-aston-villa-leeds/blt3146f16a3082d930" target="_blank">linked with leading sides across Europe</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Martinez is, however, happy in his current surroundings – having joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and recorded his 50th clean sheet for the club in their last Premier League outing against Wolves. That 2-0 win over West Midlands rivals has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/exclusive-world-cup-winner-emi-martinez-champions-league-glory-aston-villa/bltd7a0a9c6680e11e5 " target="_blank">kept the Villans in the hunt for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Martinez is determined to help them over that line, telling <a href="https://twitter.com/DSportsRadio/status/1774994409815183437 " target="_blank">DSports Radio</a> that he would take more from that achievement that moving to a team expected to compete for a place at European football’s top table. He has said: “Since I joined the club we have progressed by leaps and bounds. When I arrived we were at the bottom and became a mid-table club, then got to the Conference League and now we were recently fighting for first place. Obviously, after many injuries, we fell a little, but we are in the Champions League positions and in the quarter-finals of a European competition. The club hasn’t qualified for the Champions League for 45 years, so entering the Champions League would be like winning a title. It’s very good because it’s easy too jump to a giant club and play in the Champions League. But playing in the Champions League with a club which nobody expects to be there - the merit for me is a little more.”

WHAT MARTINEZ SAID

Martinez is tied to a contract at Villa Park through to the summer of 2027 and, at 31 years of age, would appear to still have<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/emi-martinez-snatch-two-argentina-records-ex-man-utd-goalkeeper-world-cup-winner-entries-history-books/bltad84b0c03e057734" target="_blank"> plenty of football at the very highest level left in him</a> when donning the colours of club and country.

WHAT NEXT?

‘Too easy’ – Why World Cup winner Emi Martinez has shunned marquee transfer in favour of Aston Villa stay | Goal.com US

World Cup winner Emi Martinez has explained why there has been no desire on his part to secure a marquee transfer away from Aston Villa.