Aston Villa set to lose key star as Atletico Madrid prepare £40m bid | OneFootball

Martinez’s Aston Villa Exit Looms as Atletico Madrid Circle with £40m Interest

Departure looming despite Champions League return

The emotional farewell felt like a sign. After Aston Villa’s pivotal victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Emiliano Martinez lingered longer than usual on the Villa Park turf. While fans basked in the glow of what may have been a Champions League-clinching result, the goalkeeper’s body language hinted at something else – an ending.

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According to GiveMeSport, sources close to the club believe Martinez could be heading for the exit, with Atletico Madrid leading the charge to secure his services. It’s understood Villa would be open to a sale should the 32-year-old express a desire to leave, despite being under contract until 2028 and earning £150,000 per week.

This summer could mark a poignant crossroad. On the one hand, Villa are rising again under Unai Emery, finally cracking into the top tier of European football. On the other, their first-choice goalkeeper – and World Cup winner – could be tempted by a fresh challenge in La Liga.

Atletico Madrid make their move

The timing of Atletico’s interest feels deliberate. With Jan Oblak potentially set for a departure as Diego Simeone refreshes his squad at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Martinez has emerged as a key target. Sources suggest the Spanish giants are willing to meet Villa’s £40 million valuation, knowing other clubs – including Manchester United – are monitoring developments closely.

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Martinez’s CV makes him a compelling target: a Copa America champion, World Cup winner and arguably one of the Premier League’s most consistent keepers over the past three seasons. Add to that his experience in high-pressure moments, and it’s little surprise clubs of Atletico’s stature are circling.

Emery prepares contingency plans

Unai Emery is not unaware of the shifting landscape. While Villa prepare to welcome Yasin Özcan in a £6 million deal from Kasimpasa, attention is also being paid to life beyond Martinez. GiveMeSport notes interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, although his release clause is set to increase from £21 million to £25 million should he earn a Spain cap.

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Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher is also being considered, with the Irish international reportedly seeking more game time as he continues to play understudy to Alisson Becker.

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There’s a sense that Villa, under Emery, are evolving with precision, adding youth, scouting astutely, and now, possibly reshaping one of the few positions that had seemed fully secure.

Europe remains the priority

While interest from the Saudi Pro League lingers in the background, Martinez’s preference is to remain in Europe. The project at Atletico, with Champions League football and a demanding but tactically sophisticated manager in Simeone, appears to align well with his ambitions.

Dan Bardell of Sky Sports described Martinez as “world-class,” and it’s that standard that Villa may soon lose – unless the emotional scenes last weekend were merely sentimental, rather than symbolic.

Martinez’s potential departure, just as Villa scale new heights, is a reminder of how cyclical elite football remains. Peaks and farewells can arrive simultaneously.

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For Villa fans, this will feel like terrible timing. They’ve fought tooth and nail to earn their place in the Champions League, arguably the most ambitious campaign in a generation, and now the cornerstone of that success looks ready to walk.

No one questions Martinez’s contribution. From heroic shootouts in Qatar to match-winning saves in claret and blue, he’s been immense. But why leave now? Why not be part of what you’ve helped build?

Yes, Atletico Madrid are an elite side and La Liga carries glamour. But Villa are not that far behind anymore. With Emery’s project, Villa are on a legitimate trajectory, and it will be frustrating to fans to think they might lose someone of his calibre just as the rewards of progress arrive.

Even worse is the idea that they might have to scramble for replacements during a summer when every top club is chasing a goalkeeper. Villa have been proactive in other areas, but replacing a ‘keeper of Martinez’s presence won’t be easy.