Juventus Nearing Agreement for Martínez as New No.1
Juventus have made their move. After months of reflection over the future of their goalkeeping position, the club have an agreement in principle with Emiliano Martínez, the Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper who has given a clear yes to Turin.
This is not a tentative flirtation. According to Sky Italia, Martínez has shaken hands on a three-year deal running to 2029, a commitment that underlines how strongly he views Juventus as the right stage for the next chapter of his career. At 33, with a World Cup and Copa América behind him, he sees the Bianconeri as a club that matches his ambitions and profile.
The financial details tell their own story. Martínez currently earns around €7 million net per season at Villa Park. The verbal pact with Juventus would see that figure drop to roughly €5.5 million net per year. A sizeable cut. A clear signal that he is prepared to sacrifice part of his Premier League salary to pull on the Old Lady’s shirt.
From his side, the road is open. From Aston Villa’s, it is anything but.
Villa’s Price Tag
The real negotiation starts now. Juventus and Villa are yet to agree on a fee, and that is where the deal could stall. Juventus want conditions that reflect both Martínez’s age and their own financial structure. Villa, fresh from continental success and fully aware of the market value of an elite, trophy-winning goalkeeper, are not inclined to offer discounts.
The latest indications suggest Villa could demand close to €15 million to release their No.1. For a 33-year-old, that is not an insignificant outlay, especially for a club that must balance ambition with prudence. For Villa, though, it would be a line in the sand: they will not lose a Europa League–winning goalkeeper without what they consider proper compensation.
Martínez’s stance remains clear. After helping Aston Villa to European glory, he sees Juventus as the natural next step. A traditional powerhouse, a chance to compete for major honours in Serie A and in Europe, and a stage befitting a goalkeeper who has already stood tall in the biggest moments for Argentina.
Spalletti’s Request
This pursuit is not driven by opportunism. It comes from the very top of the sporting project. Luciano Spalletti, after a difficult season for his back line, has identified the need for a commanding, internationally proven goalkeeper. Martínez fits that profile perfectly.
Juventus did test the waters elsewhere. Alisson Becker was the first dream, but Liverpool shut the door immediately, refusing to entertain any kind of deal. That firm no from Anfield pushed the Juventus hierarchy to concentrate fully on Martínez.
The attraction is obvious. Martínez has been a pillar of Argentina’s recent dominance on the international stage, decisive in penalty shootouts, vocal, imposing, a leader in every sense. In Turin, he would not just fill a position; he would become a reference point for a team that wants to reassert itself in Italy and return to the sharp end of European competition.
Plan B on Standby
Yet the deal is not done, and Juventus know it. Villa’s demands could drag the negotiations into uncomfortable territory. If the asking price climbs or the talks stall, the club are determined not to be left exposed again in such a crucial role.
Alternative options are already being monitored across Europe. Names remain in the background for now, but the strategy is clear: Juventus will not allow another season to pass with uncertainty hanging over the goalkeeper’s position. They want a definitive solution, not a stopgap.
The next few weeks will decide everything. Either Juventus and Aston Villa find common ground and Emiliano Martínez walks into Continassa as the new No.1, or the Italian giants pivot to their backup list and rewrite the script for their goalkeeping future.
