Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will return to former club Independiente in future, having long wanted to do so.
That’s according to Argentina goalkeeper coach Damián Albil, who says he has spoken to the World Cup winner about the idea.
Martínez started his career with Independiente’s U-20 side in his homeland but never made any appearances for them or the senior team, instead joining Arsenal in a €1.5m deal in July 2010.
He would spend the next nine years with the Gunners, failing to break into the first team and instead going out on various loan spells around England and with Getafe in Spain.
His big break came in 2020, when an injury to Bernd Leno handed him his chance to shine in the Arsenal first team, an opportunity he took with both hands.
He’s now considered one of the best goalkeepers in Europe and is a World Cup winner after Argentina’s success in Qatar last year.
At 30-years-old he still has plenty of years left at the top of the game, but Albil says there is a plan to return home, and to his former club particularly.
“With Dibu we always talk about Rojo and the moments he lived in the club,” he told TNT Sports.
“He told me that if he became world champion at some point he would return to Independiente.
“As soon as the game (the World Cup final) ended we hugged each other, and I said in his ear ‘remember your promise’ and he laughed. Now is not the time but surely in the future he’s going to do it.”
“He’s what everyone sees on the pitch. He’s totally authentic, that’s the personality he has. He’s a guy with a big heart and great humility.”
