Juventus wants Emiliano Martínez, but Aston Villa closes the door on a transfer
Juventus has placed Emiliano Martínez high on its list of goalkeeping reinforcements for the 2026/27 season, but the potential deal is already facing a serious obstacle at an early stage: Aston Villa is publicly stating that it has no intention of selling the Argentina international. The Italian club is exploring the financial and contractual conditions of a transfer, while the English side, protected by a contract valid until the summer of 2029, retains a strong negotiating position. In such circumstances, the interest from Turin should for now be viewed as a concrete market initiative, rather than a transfer that is close to completion.
As of 20 July 2026, Martínez is still registered as an Aston Villa player, and neither club has announced that an official offer has been accepted or that negotiations are in their final stage. Italian media have reported in recent weeks that Juventus wants to determine whether it can sign the experienced goalkeeper at a price acceptable within its budget, but significantly different messages are coming from Birmingham. Damian Vidagany, Aston Villa's director of professional football, told 365Scores that the club has no intention of allowing Martínez to leave during the summer transfer window and described him as an important part of Unai Emery's team. That statement considerably raises the threshold for a possible agreement because it shows that Villa does not regard the 33-year-old goalkeeper as a player it is actively offering on the market.
Juventus has examined the price and conditions of a possible deal
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on 8 July that Juventus officials had held talks with Emiliano Martínez's representatives to gain a clearer picture of the total cost of the operation. According to that report, the meeting was attended by Juventus chief executive officer and general manager Giovanni Carnevali and chief football officer Frederic Massara. The subject was not only the potential transfer fee payable to Aston Villa, but also the salary, contract duration, bonuses and room for reducing the total financial burden. Gazzetta stated that the preliminary personal agreement previously discussed with the player's representatives included a three-year contract, but such reports have not been confirmed by an official statement from Juventus or Aston Villa.
The same Italian source reported at the beginning of July that Aston Villa was demanding at least ten million euros for Martínez, while figures of six to seven million euros appeared in other media reports. The exact asking price has not been officially disclosed, so the differences between the reports demonstrate how fluid the market situation remains. For Juventus, the crucial question is whether it can agree a price that reflects the player's age and his potential value at the end of a future contract, while for Villa it is more important to assess how the sporting loss of its first-choice goalkeeper would affect the team. Even a relatively low transfer fee can turn into an expensive operation when a multi-year salary, bonuses, commissions and tax liabilities are added.
Martínez will turn 34 on 2 September, which does not mean that his career is nearing its end, especially in the goalkeeper position, but it does influence the structure of negotiations. The club buying him must weigh his immediate sporting quality and experience against his limited future resale value. Aston Villa, on the other hand, is not under pressure from a short contract because in August 2024 it officially confirmed an extension of the partnership until 2029. It is precisely that contract which allows the English club to reject offers it considers insufficient and to avoid entering negotiations merely because another club has shown interest.
Aston Villa publicly says that the goalkeeper is staying
Vidagany's statement represents the clearest public response to stories about a possible move to Turin. According to him, Martínez's future at Aston Villa is not in doubt, the club needs him because of his commitment and considerable experience, and media reports about a possible transfer to Juventus do not reflect the management's true position. Such wording does not necessarily close the market forever, because positions in football can change following an exceptionally high offer or a clear transfer request from the player, but there is currently no confirmation that either of those things has happened. For now, the official contractual fact is simple: Martínez belongs to Aston Villa for another three seasons, until 30 June 2029.
The English club also has sporting reasons for taking a firm position. Martínez joined Aston Villa in September 2020 and became one of the team's most recognisable members over the following seasons. His value is not limited to saves, but also includes communication with the defensive line, experience in high-pressure matches and a commanding presence in the penalty area. In Unai Emery's system, the goalkeeper is also involved in the initial phase of build-up play, which means that a change in that position would require more than finding a player with good reflexes. Villa would have to find a replacement capable of quickly understanding the team's demands while simultaneously handling the expectations that would follow the departure of a world champion.
That is precisely why the public refusal to sell may serve a dual purpose. It reassures supporters and confirms the player's importance, while also sending potential buyers the message that a symbolic or opportunistic offer will not be sufficient. Juventus must now decide whether to increase its financial effort, attempt to include a different bonus structure or withdraw before negotiations become prolonged. Without a change in Aston Villa's position, it is difficult to expect a swift conclusion to the deal, regardless of whether the player is in principle open to a new challenge.
Martínez has just completed another demanding major tournament
Juventus's interest has emerged immediately after the end of the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the final on 19 July, FIFA confirmed, meaning that Martínez can only now fully focus on his club future. His return from international duty could accelerate talks with Aston Villa and his own representatives, but the conclusion of the tournament itself does not change the contractual situation. If Juventus wants to continue its attempt, the next step would have to be more direct contact with the English club and an offer that Villa considers worthy of consideration.
The Argentine's international status is one of the main reasons Juventus sees him as an attractive target. FIFA named him the best goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup, where Argentina won the title. CONMEBOL subsequently selected him as the best goalkeeper of the 2024 Copa América, another tournament that Argentina finished by lifting the trophy. Such a résumé brings experience that is difficult to measure solely through conventional statistics, particularly in knockout matches, penalty shoot-outs and situations in which one save can change an entire season.
For Juventus, the arrival of a player of that profile would also send a message about its ambitions. The Turin club traditionally places great importance on stability in the goalkeeper position, and an experienced international could immediately assume responsibility without a lengthy period of adjustment to the pressure of a major club. Nevertheless, Serie A presents different tactical demands from the Premier League, and changing countries after six years in English football always carries a certain degree of risk. Martínez's personality, authority and international experience suggest that he could adapt, but the transfer decision must also include an assessment of his form, physical condition and the sustainability of a multi-year contract.
What the interest means for Michele Di Gregorio and the current hierarchy
Juventus already has Michele Di Gregorio, Mattia Perin and Carlo Pinsoglio in the first-team goalkeeping group. The official club website lists Di Gregorio as a member of the first team, and his statistics from the 2024/25 season included 30 appearances and 13 clean sheets in Serie A. The interest in Martínez therefore does not arise from a complete lack of options, but from an assessment that the team could acquire a more experienced and internationally established first-choice goalkeeper. Such a move would inevitably raise questions about the future of the existing goalkeepers and the distribution of playing time.
Di Gregorio arrived in Turin as one of the most highly regarded goalkeepers in the Italian league, with a reputation as a modern goalkeeper who reacts well to shots and contributes to play with his feet. If Martínez were to arrive as the clearly designated first choice, Juventus would have to decide whether to retain Di Gregorio as strong competition, allow him to leave or find an interim solution. Perin's role would also have to be redefined, particularly if the club wants to avoid excessive expenditure on a single position. For that reason, the possible transfer is not an isolated purchase, but a decision that could trigger a chain of changes throughout the entire goalkeeping department.
Coach Luciano Spalletti, according to Gazzetta's report, regards Martínez as the priority option. The experienced goalkeeper fits the concept of a team that wants greater security, leadership and control in decisive matches. However, the coaching staff's preference is not the only criterion: the management must align the transfer fee, salary and the plan to sell or loan existing players. If Aston Villa maintains its decision not to negotiate, Juventus will have to assess quickly how long it can wait before other targets become unavailable.
David de Gea as an alternative is neither a simple nor an inexpensive choice
Among the alternatives mentioned in recent days by Italian and international media is David de Gea. The Spanish goalkeeper knows Serie A well because he is a Fiorentina player, and the Florence club officially announced in May 2025 that his contract had been extended until 30 June 2028. This means that De Gea is not a free agent whom Juventus can sign without negotiating a transfer fee. Any transfer attempt would require an agreement with a direct league rival, and Fiorentina has no obvious reason to give up an important and experienced goalkeeper under a long-term contract.
De Gea would offer Juventus a different profile, but a similar level of experience in major clubs and international competitions. He spent years as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper, and after arriving in Italy he showed that he could adapt to the tactical demands of Serie A. His familiarity with the league would reduce part of the adaptation risk, but negotiations with Fiorentina could be just as complex as talks with Aston Villa. In addition, Juventus would have to assess his salary, the length of the contract and the fact that De Gea would turn 36 in November 2026.
Gazzetta also listed Guglielmo Vicario, Vanja Milinković-Savić and Zion Suzuki among the other possibilities. Those goalkeepers represent different strategic directions: Vicario brings experience from the Premier League and Italian football, Milinković-Savić knows Serie A, while Suzuki offers a younger profile and the potential for long-term development. Their transfer fees could be higher than the amount being mentioned for Martínez, but lower salaries and greater future market value could change the overall calculation. Juventus is therefore not comparing only the purchase price, but the full cost of the contract and the sporting value over several seasons.
Aston Villa's long contract gives it control over the pace of negotiations
The most important element of the entire story remains Martínez's contract until 2029. In transfer negotiations, the length of a contract often determines the balance of power more than the publicly expressed desire of the interested club. Had the Argentine goalkeeper entered the final year of his agreement, Villa would have had to consider the risk of losing him without a fee or at a reduced price. In the current situation, it can calmly reject an offer, retain the player and reconsider the market during a later transfer window.
Juventus must therefore provide a reason for Villa to change its publicly stated position. That could be a significantly higher fixed transfer fee, readily achievable bonuses, favourable payment terms or another structure that would make it easier for the English club to invest in a replacement. There is currently no official confirmation that such an offer has been submitted. There is also no confirmation that Martínez has requested a transfer, and without such a step Aston Villa faces no additional internal pressure to accelerate a sale.
On the other hand, public statements during a transfer window are not always the final word. Clubs often protect their negotiating position until they receive an offer that matches their valuation, while players sometimes make a decision about their future only after a holiday and discussions with the sporting management. It is therefore impossible to completely rule out further contact, but the information available on 20 July shows that Juventus is the interested party, while Aston Villa is not a willing seller. That is a significant difference from a transfer in which both clubs are seeking a model to complete the deal.
A decision must follow before the market closes
For Juventus, time is becoming an important factor. The club must conduct preparations for the new season with a clear hierarchy among its goalkeepers, especially if the coaching staff plans to change the way the team builds attacks and organises its defence. Waiting too long for Martínez could leave less room for an agreement with alternatives, while withdrawing too early could mean abandoning Spalletti's preferred target. The management must therefore determine the maximum transfer fee and total financial package beyond which it will not go.
Aston Villa can wait more calmly because it already has its first-choice goalkeeper under contract. The club will nevertheless have to monitor Martínez's position after his return from international duty and assess whether the public story about Juventus will affect preparations. Emery's team wants stability before the beginning of the Premier League season, so an early end to the uncertainty would suit both the coach and the players. If Villa remains consistent with Vidagany's message, Martínez will rejoin club duties as one of the key figures in the project.
At this moment, the most likely scenario is not an immediate transfer announcement, but a continued assessment of the conditions. Juventus has shown interest and held talks with the player's representatives, but Aston Villa publicly rejects the idea of a sale and has a contract that allows it to dictate the pace. De Gea and other alternatives remain part of the broader plan only if the Turin club concludes that the price for Martínez is too high or that the English club will not change its position. Until an official offer acceptable to Aston Villa arrives, the Argentina international remains a player of the Birmingham club, and the story of a move to Turin remains an open transfer possibility, not a completed deal.
Sources:
- La Gazzetta dello Sport – report on the meeting between Juventus officials and Martínez's representatives, the financial conditions and possible alternatives (link)
- Goal – Damian Vidagany's statement on Aston Villa's position and the club's intention to retain the goalkeeper (link)
- Aston Villa FC – official confirmation of Martínez's contract until 2029 (link)
- Aston Villa FC – official profile of Emiliano Martínez and his status in the first team (link)
- Juventus FC – official profile of Michele Di Gregorio and club information about the goalkeeping competition (link)
- ACF Fiorentina – official confirmation of David de Gea's contract until June 2028 (link)
- FIFA – official report on the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina (link)
- FIFA – information about Martínez winning the Golden Glove at the 2022 World Cup (link)
- CONMEBOL – official confirmation that Martínez was named the best goalkeeper of the 2024 Copa América (link)