Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez: I never wanted to leave Independiente for Arsenal

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·5 September 2021

Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez: I never wanted to leave Independiente for Arsenal

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez admits he didn't want to leave Independiente for Arsenal in 2010.

Martinez admitted he made the decision to join the North London club for £1.1million to provide for his family as they were struggling financially at the time.

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He told El Pais: "Arsenal came to look for me and Pepe Santoro [a coach at Independiente] told me that the train only passes once in a lifetime.

"My family and my agents thought the same. So, the decision was more for them than anything else.

"I didn't want to go. I did not regret it, but I wanted to play in Independiente. For a while, I thought: 'If I stayed, in two years I will make my debut. [My family] lacked a little financially. I did it more for that than sports."