Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has insisted it was wrong for the audience at the Ballon d’Or to boo Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez.
The defender has been speaking to TyC Sport regarding his international teammate, who he plays alongside for Argentina.
The Aston Villa and Manchester United players were a part of the squad that won the World Cup in Qatar last year, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper particularly important as he saved several penalties in the shootout against France to secure the trophy for his nation.
It was because of that success that he was ultimately named as the world’s best goalkeeper in the Ballon d’Or awards earlier this week.
The decision to hand him the award did not go down well with everyone, though, with the Villa star facing boos and jeers as he took to the stage to accept the award at the ceremony.
That’s something Martínez has become accustomed to in recent years, with his behaviour on the pitch, where he often confronts and taunts opposition players to gain an advantage, not going down well with everyone.
It was that which led to the reaction at the awards, but Manchester United’s Martínez insists that was unfair on his teammate.
“Without a doubt it should have been respected: whoever the player is,” he said.
“I am one of those that I respect, and the truth is that I loved the attitude of Dibu, always leading by example. It makes me happy because of Dibu’s example more than that of other people.”
