Dibu Martínez booed in France, Lille fans still sore over Qatar | OneFootball

Dibu Martínez doesn’t need to do anything to earn the hatred of Lille’s fans: just showing up is enough. The Aston Villa goalkeeper came out to warm up at the Pierre-Mauroy and, with the stadium still half-empty, the first whistles were already echoing through the stands. The broadcast cameras quickly captured the scene that summed up the atmosphere: a French flag with a blunt message — “Martínez is not welcome” — displayed by supporters of the French side who clearly still haven’t digested what happened in Qatar 2022.

For Dibu, this match has a special ingredient that goes beyond the sporting aspect. It’s not just another opponent: it’s a reunion with a crowd that has had it in for him ever since the World Cup final in Qatar, when Argentina beat France in the penalty shootout.

The story between Dibu and Lille’s fans didn’t start this Thursday. You have to go back to April 2024, when the goalkeeper set foot on French soil for the first time since that final, to play the Conference League quarterfinals. The reception was exactly the same: whistles, insults, and banners. And the result? Dibu shone, saved two penalties in the shootout, and after enduring 120 minutes of hostility, silenced the stands with his now-famous little dance.

After that match, the Argentine goalkeeper declared that the hostility motivated him. “The fans motivate me, you know? When they throw things at my back… all my life people have thrown things at my back. And I’ve always gotten back up. It gives me just the right fuel to perform,” he said after that game.

That image was seared into the memory of French fans. And now, with Dibu back in their home, they want revenge.

The match promises to be heated both on and off the pitch. The Argentine goalkeeper arrives with the mission of keeping the goal safe for an Aston Villa that needs a good result for the return leg in Birmingham. Lille’s fans, meanwhile, have already done their part: the welcome was ready long before the opening whistle.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.