Manchester United Take Decision On This Aston Villa Star: Does Unai Emery Need Him? | OneFootball

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the Red Devils have no interest in signing Emiliano Martinez this summer. This effectively slams the door on a transfer that looked like a sure thing just a year ago. Brown was blunt, noting that United wanted the Argentine last summer, but the situation dragged on strangely, leaving Martinez gutted when the deal collapsed.

Villa reportedly turned down a loan offer from Old Trafford, holding out for a permanent fee. United eventually moved on to sign Senne Lammens, who has since become a vital part of Michael Carrick’s setup. Brown made it clear that with Lammens playing so well, United have no reason to go back into the goalkeeper market.

Even if Martinez hits the market on a free or for a cut-price fee, a move to Old Trafford is completely off the table. This leaves Martinez in a tough spot: does he leave Villa as a man with few options, or can Saudi Arabia and European giants offer the stage he wants? Brown expects interest from those areas, but with nothing concrete on the horizon, the 33-year-old is stuck in limbo heading into the window.

“Man United aren’t going to be interested in Martinez,” Brown told Football Insider.

“They wanted him last summer, everybody knew that, and it was a strange situation because he looked like he wanted to leave Villa but it never happened.

“So he’s had to stay for another season and I heard he was disappointed not to join United.

“But now they’ve got Lammens in goal and he has been brilliant since coming into the side, he’s been a big part of the success under Michael Carrick.

“There’s no reason now why they would be looking for a new goalkeeper, so even if Martinez is available, I would be very surprised if they made a move.”

On the pitch, Martinez has 26 Premier League starts this season, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding 28 goals, a rate of 1.1 per 90 minutes. He holds a 72.38% save percentage from 105 shots. These are decent stats, but they aren’t elite. Across all competitions, he’s played 30 games, conceded 34, and made 82 saves. A 72% save rate is strictly mid-table compared to the league’s best, which is jarring for a two-time FIFA Best Goalkeeper winner.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa looks on as he warms up prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Villa Park on February 21, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

His physical presence and penalty-saving remain top-tier, but his flaws are showing. Distribution is still a struggle, and critics now wonder if his shot-stopping justifies his reputation. BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty even claimed in 2025 that Martinez is overrated, a take that gains weight given his current numbers.

Unai Emery stripped Martinez of the vice-captaincy in November 2025, handing it to Ezri Konsa. Many see this as punishment for Martinez trying to force the United move last summer. This isn’t just about team protocol; losing a leadership role mid-season signals a massive breakdown in trust. Martinez still starts, but the atmosphere between him and the club has turned cold.

Do Aston Villa Actually Need Martinez Beyond This Summer?

The short answer is no. Villa are already looking at Manchester City’s James Trafford, a young keeper stuck behind Gianluigi Donnarumma. At 22, Trafford suits Emery’s tactics better and offers long-term value. Martinez turns 34 in September. Between his age, his dip in attitude, and the fact that he was once seen crying while seemingly saying goodbye to fans, keeping him is a risk to squad harmony.

I believe Martinez leaves this summer, and Aston Villa will be better for it. They should sign Trafford, keep Marco Bizot as a solid backup, and move on. Martinez gave Villa five great years, but the exit is already written. The only question left is where he lands next.