‘I made the right choice’: PL star reacts to failed MUFC move after being dropped by manager when talks were ongoing

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Stretty News

·20 mai 2026

‘I made the right choice’: PL star reacts to failed MUFC move after being dropped by manager when talks were ongoing

Emiliano Martinez has voiced his delight at staying with Aston Villa rather than completing a move away last summer.

In fairness, it wasn’t really up to him in the end, as his rumoured switch to Manchester United collapsed when they targeted Senne Lammens instead.

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What happened with United and Martinez last year?

The saga came in the very dying embers of the 2025 summer window, when the Red Devils were frantically scouring the market for a suitable shot-stopper to replace both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir between the sticks.

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Bayindir had been promoted to Ruben Amorim’s No.1 at the beginning of the campaign following a calamitous season from Onana, but quickly proved that he also wasn’t capable of filling the void long-term.

Bayindir’s 25/26 Premier League record

It prompted INEOS to try their luck just days before the window closed by approaching both Lammens and Martinez, and they even went as far as agreeing personal terms with the latter.

United chose Lammens over Martinez

While talks were ongoing, Unai Emery opted to drop the veteran ‘keeper, 33, from his squad for their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.

Yet, United were simultaneously negotiating a deal with Royal Antwerp for 23-year-old Lammens.

They eventually favoured the route of youth over experienceand agreed an £18.1 million deal to bring the Belgian in on a five-year contract.

Senne Lammens is the complete goalkeeper 🧤
– mardi 31 mars 2026

Martinez was restored to the Villa XI for the subsequent fixture, where he has stayed ever since.

What has Martinez had to say about his failed transfer?

Ahead of the Villans’ Europa League final encounter tonight, Martinez reflected on his previous links to other clubs, saying (via the Metro): “I have a commitment with Aston Villa. I am a World Cup winner with Aston Villa. I have won two Golden Gloves with Aston Villa. I will always and forever love this club. One day I am going to retire, so someone else will need to be between the sticks.

“Listen, I am in a European final, and we have got Champions League again with all the circumstances that we have had and battles we have had this year. We are one of the lowest spenders in the Premier League.

“We have a top coach, a top captain [John McGinn], and a decent core of the team. When we stick together and when we fight together, I think that we can beat anybody. I am really proud to stay – I made the right choice.”