Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez was warned not to be a fool by changing his shirt number for Argentina during the World Cup.
That’s what FM Impacto 107 report today, detailing why the goalkeeper will be wearing number 23 during the tournament in Qatar despite being first choice in Lionel Scaloni’s squad.
They explain that despite being the ‘standout performer’ for Argentina since bursting onto the international scene, Martinez has never taken the number one shirt for his country.
That was initially because he started as Franco Armani’s replacement at last year’s Copa America, with his brilliant performances at that tournament establishing him as first choice moving forwards.
He’s been a key player since that point but ‘hesitated’ to claim the number one shirt, instead believing the number 23 has ‘characterised’ him since he became first choice.
Martinez was originally going to wear the number 12 at the Copa American but went for 23 as it was the day his first child, Santiago, was born (23rd June).
There was also a debate with his Argentina teammates on the matter, during which he asked them if it was ‘better to wear the number one’.
This, though, received an ‘immediate and unanimous’ response from the rest of the squad, who told the Aston Villa man “don’t even think about it, don’t be a fool”.
Scaloni’s squad is ‘very superstitious’, with Alejandro Gomez, Papu Gomez, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Otamendi even ensuring they always arrive at every call-up together believing that from the moment they first did so, the team started winning and it is something to be maintained.
This year that was not possible, but Gomez edited the image of them arriving at AFA’s premises to ensure it appeared like they all arrived at the same time, such is the strength of their belief.
It is that superstitious nature which has seen Martinez stay as number 23 for his country, despite the Aston Villa star being the undisputed number one.
