Juventus have officially informed Aston Villa that they will no longer pursue a deal for goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, ending weeks of speculation over a move that once appeared close.
The decision, made internally days earlier and confirmed to the Premier League club on Sunday, stems from the high overall costs of the transaction that the Serie A side deemed unacceptable.
Martinez, the Argentina international and recent Europa League winner with Villa, had agreed personal terms on a three-year contract with Juventus worth around €5 million per season plus bonuses-a significant pay cut from his current roughly €7 million annual wage. The player was keen on the switch to Turin for a new challenge after helping Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final.
Why has Juventus pulled out of Emiliano Martinez Deal?
However, the clubs remained far apart on a transfer fee. Villa, holding Martinez under contract until 2029, demanded between €10 million and €15 million.
Juventus refused to go beyond €6-7 million for the 33-year-old (turning 34 in September), citing limited spending capacity after missing Champions League qualification and existing goalkeeper options on the books.
Villa’s director of football operations Damian Vidagany repeatedly shut the door, stating the goalkeeper’s future was settled at the club and they had no intention of selling him this summer, describing him as vital to Unai Emery’s project. Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti publicly acknowledged interest in adding competitiveness between the posts but stressed the need for prudence, noting the club already has two keepers and lacks scope for major outlay.
Compounding the issues is Martinez’s ongoing recovery from a fractured ring finger sustained in the warm-up before Villa’s Europa League final in May. He played through the World Cup in significant pain after declining recommended surgery; the operation is now expected, potentially sidelining him for 10-12 weeks and making him unavailable early in the season-an unattractive prospect for any buyer paying a meaningful fee.
The Argentine is set to remain at Villa Park for the 2026-27 campaign, recovering and competing in the Premier League and Champions League. The window still has time left, but his dream of playing in Turin for the Old Lady has taken a free fall.