Unai Emery has decided to strip Emiliano Martinez of his vice-captaincy at Aston Villa.
On Wednesday night, when the Villans hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in a group-stage Europa League clash, skipper John McGinn was not included in Emery’s starting XI.
Yet, instead of Martinez donning the armband for the night, Ezri Konsa deputised for the Scotland international, leading his teammates out before what would eventually be a 2-0 victory.
MailSport has since suggested Emery’s decision ‘could be in response’ to Martinez’s failed Manchester United move in the final week of the transfer window.
Emi Martinez and United: What happened over the summer?
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The World Cup winner had been brought up in conversations regarding United’s goalkeeping targets throughout the summer, though nothing had materialised as they decided to stick with Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana.
However, after the pair’s performances left much to be desired in the opening matches of the term, INEOS decided to enter the market late on to try and sanction a new shot-stopper’s arrival.
They held talks with Martinez and even agreed personal terms with the veteran, before instead favouring a younger alternative in the form of Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens.
Martinez was desperate to make United switch
(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Reports have since suggested Martinez went as far as telling his close friends he would be making the move to Old Trafford, and the Villa boss even dropped him on the day rumours were circulating when the side faced Crystal Palace.
When Lammens’ transfer was signed and sealed, the Villa No.1 was restored to the side in place of Marco Bizot – but not without some repercussions, it seems.
The former Arsenal ‘keeper had been second-in-command since July 2022. Even though McGinn’s availability meant Martinez was only handed the armband on rare occasions, it was still a testament to how highly Emery thought of him.
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