Juventus Nears Emiliano Martínez as New Goalkeeper

Juventus have made their move. After months of searching for a new leader between the posts, the club have reached an agreement in principle with Emiliano Martínez, the Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper who has made a career out of thriving under pressure.

The 33-year-old has given a clear yes to Italy. He sees Juventus as the natural next chapter of a career that already includes a World Cup, a Copa América and, most recently, a Europa League triumph with Villa. For a player who feeds off big stages and hostile atmospheres, Turin holds obvious appeal.

A deal with the player – and a sacrifice

According to Sky Italia, Juventus and Martínez have shaken hands on a three-year contract running to 2029. The terms say plenty about his determination to force the move.

The agreement would see him earn around €5.5 million net per season, a significant step down from the roughly €7m he currently collects at Villa Park. For a goalkeeper at his age and status, accepting a pay cut is a clear signal: he wants the Bianconeri shirt badly enough to bend.

From Juventus’ perspective, the numbers make sense. A shorter, high-level deal for a proven international, without completely breaking their wage structure, fits the club’s attempt to rebuild with some financial discipline still intact.

Villa hold the key

There is, however, one problem. Aston Villa.

Martínez may be ready, but the clubs are not there yet. Juventus want to exploit the fact that he is 33 and push for favourable terms, while Villa are under no obligation to sell cheaply. The Birmingham side value a goalkeeper who has just helped them to European silverware and has become a symbol of their rise.

The latest indications point to Villa asking for a fee in the region of €15 million. For a keeper of his pedigree, it is hardly excessive, yet Juventus are treading carefully as they juggle multiple squad needs and a tight budget. The negotiation now moves into that familiar grey area: how far are the Italians prepared to go, and how firmly will Villa dig in?

Spalletti’s demand for a leader

The pursuit of Martínez is not a scattergun move from the Turin hierarchy. It stems from a direct request from Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who endured a turbulent season at the back and wants a commanding, world-class presence to reset his defence.

Spalletti knows exactly what Martínez brings: presence, noise, and a ruthless edge in decisive moments. The Argentine has been central to his country’s recent domination on the international stage, from penalty shootouts to high-tension finals, and that experience is precisely what Juventus believe they have been missing as they try to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite.

Juventus had initially tested the waters for Liverpool’s Alisson Becker. That door was slammed shut. Liverpool refused to entertain the idea, forcing the Italian club to pivot decisively towards Martínez and build their plan around him.

No room for hesitation

Even as talks with Villa continue, Juventus are not standing still. The club have drawn up a list of alternatives across Europe, aware that another season of uncertainty in goal is not an option. They cannot afford to be left scrambling late in the window if Villa’s stance hardens.

For now, though, Martínez remains the priority. The verbal pact with the player is in place, the salary cut agreed, the desire mutual. All that separates him from the No 1 shirt in Turin is a fee that satisfies Villa’s demands without blowing apart Juventus’ careful calculations.

The coming weeks will reveal who blinks first – the club that built him into a European trophy winner, or the club that believes he can be the cornerstone of their return to the top.