Juventus are in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, with the player reportedly agreeing to a three-year contract worth €5 million per year plus bonuses. Representatives from Juventus met with Vlado Lemic, the intermediary representing Martinez, in Milan to discuss the potential transfer following previous video calls where an agreement in principle was reached.
Martinez is said to be keen on joining the Turin club and working under new manager Luciano Spalletti, despite potentially sacrificing Champions League football he regularly enjoyed with Aston Villa. The Argentina international is seeking one final challenge at a top European club before considering a move to Saudi Arabia later in his career.
However, a significant obstacle remains in the form of Aston Villa’s valuation of the player. While Villa are open to allowing Martinez to leave, having previously been close to a sale last summer, they are demanding a transfer fee of at least €10 million. This is proving a sticking point, with Juventus hoping to secure a deal for a lower fee, potentially between €3 and €5 million.
Juventus officials Giovanni Carnevali and Cristiano Giuntoli are attempting to involve Martinez’s representatives to leverage their relationship with Aston Villa and encourage the Premier League club to lower their demands. The situation is complicated by Martinez’s current focus on the international scene with Argentina, where he has deliberately limited communication regarding his club future.
Should the Martinez deal fall through, Juventus have identified Tottenham Hotspur’s Guglielmo Vicario as an alternative. While Spalletti has expressed some reservations about Vicario, the club’s financial constraints following the ratification of a settlement agreement may necessitate a move for the Italian, potentially on a loan with an option to buy. Juventus are prepared to move for Vicario if they are unable to reach an agreement for Martinez and sell either Mattia Perin or Marco Di Gregorio.
