Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that goalkeeper Emi Martinez has asked for a new challenge this summer, just as he did last year, and that Zion Suzuki has been brought in as a potential replacement. However, Emery insists that having both goalkeepers is 'not a bad scenario'.
Martinez could still leave the club in the final days of the summer transfer window, despite a proposed move to Juventus falling through. The 32-year-old has trained at Bodymoor Heath after recovering from an injury sustained during the World Cup.
Emery's stance on the goalkeeping situation
Ahead of Villa's season opener against Brighton, Emery was asked about the situation. He said: "We can share both. This scenario is a bad scenario? Not. We have two excellent keepers."
Emery added: "We have signed Suzuki not for the future, but for now. He has shown his capacity and that he can play at our level."
Martinez's desire for a new challenge
Emery explained that Martinez has been open about his ambitions. "Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career, not now and even last year, and he was thinking in case he had a possibility to change his challenges, but he stayed and performed fantastic," he said.
"This year, again, he transmitted to us for a new challenge, and we signed Suzuki to replace him. But the scenario we have is that we have two great goalkeepers."
Backup options and possible changes
Emery also praised the club's other goalkeeping options. "Bizot as well, when we needed him, he responded fantastically. My ideal scenario with the goalkeeper is really fantastic, but maybe we can still change something," he stated.
The manager's comments suggest that while Martinez's departure remains possible, Villa are well-equipped either way, with Suzuki and Bizot providing depth. The final days of the transfer window will determine whether Martinez's request for a new challenge is granted.
