New Aston Villa goalkeeper Joe Gauci is excited to learn from the ‘world-class’ Emiliano Martinez after completing his move from Adelaide United to the Premier League on deadline day.
The cynics may argue that Joe Gauci – currently Australia’s number two shot-stopper – has shot himself in the foot a little, swapping guaranteed first-team football in the A-League for a place on Aston Villa’s bench.
It’s fair to say the 23-year-old sees things differently, however. Patience will be a virtue for Gauci at Villa Park – Martinez appears to be going nowhere any time soon – but one of the club’s three deadline day acquisitions believes he can only benefit from training alongside the World Cup-winning Argentine.
Aston Villa sign Australia goalkeeper Joe Gauci
“It’s going to be an experience that I’m really looking forward to. It’ll be a bit of a learning curve along the way, moving overseas and experiencing a different culture. But this is part of football, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Gauci tells Optus Sport.
“(Aston Villa) have identified me and my talents, believe in me and the progress that I’m going to be able to make, to really push and go in, work hard, develop my game and take it to another level.
“I have that ambition of establishing myself in the league as all players do.
“I want to play games but understand I (face competition from) a fantastic, world-class goalkeeper. It’s going to be surreal to be able to work day-in-day-out with Martinez and learn off him.
“He has been phenomenal for club and country. So it’s really exciting to go in and work with him and with Javi (Garcia) as well, the goalkeeper coach, who is one of the best in the world and has established a lot of other top goalkeepers.”
Gauci can learn from Emi Martinez
Gauci, who was named in the A-League’s Team of the Year in 2023, is the most expensive export in the history of Australia’s top flight. Aston Villa reportedly paid £1.3 million, slighly more than the fee Celtic stumped up to bring in Marco Tilio over the summer.
Gauci is also one of four new faces at Villa Park, and the oldest at the age of 23. Kosta Nedeljkovic, Lino Sousa and Morgan Rogers also arrived.
“It’s been hectic, to say the least,” Gauci adds. “I think it was an opportunity that straightaway made my ears perk up. I was getting towards the end of the month and then I was approached to join Villa.
“The conversations that I’ve had with the club and coaching staff really reinforced that it’s going to be a move that’ll take my career to another level.
“It’s massive. As a boy from Australia, the Premier League is the pinnacle of football.”
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