Roy Keane has had a pop at former Arsenal star Emi Martinez by stating that he is ‘very annoying’ after the Aston Villa goalkeeper helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.
The Manchester United legend did add that ‘you want to kind of do something to him’ if you were the Villa man’s opponent, but he would love to have the 30-year-old on his side.
Well, Martinez’s marmite-like ways were all on show when Argentina and France traded blows in a thrilling 3-3 draw in the World Cup final, before the South American giants won the game via a penalty shootout.
In the quarter-finals, Martinez saved two penalties to help Argentina progress against the Netherlands, and yesterday, he denied Kingsley Coman, as well as playing his typical mind games and making Aurélien Tchouaméni shoot wide.
And this is what the outspoken Roy Keane had to say about it all when Villa’s number one was collecting the Golden Glove award, as his praise had to be mixed with a backhanded compliment, as he told ITV Sport.
“He’s very annoying,” said Keane. “You want to kind of do something him, if you were playing against him.
On Martinez’s celebration when he collected his award: “Oh here go, lovely.
“But you would also want him in your team. Think of a penalty shootout. He has made a huge, huge difference and that’s what you want from your goalkeeper.”
MARTINEZ’S RISE
From that unknown and fresh-faced teenager that joined Arsenal when Arsene Wenger was in charge to the one that left in 2020 without really making his mark, it has been some journey for the now-30-year-old.
When Mikel Arteta was happy for Martinez to leave because Bernd Leno was Arsenal’s number one, at that point, he had zero caps for Argentina.
But during his first season in Villa colours, he secured 15 clean sheets and his life changed, from that moment.
26 Argentina caps later, and not only is Martinez a Copa America winner, but he also has football’s biggest-ever trophy to his name, and deservedly so.
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