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‘Complete opposite’: Coach says £17m player who Tottenham want to sign has been totally transformed now
Neil Cutler worked extensively with Emi Martinez during their time together at Aston Villa and says he has been transformed.
Martinez is just one game away from World Cup glory and goalkeeping coach Cutler spoke to the about the Argentine.
Journalist Dean Jones told that Martinez is a goalkeeping target for Tottenham as they look to the succession plan for his opposite number on Sunday, Hugo Lloris.
He said: “A very interesting position at Spurs going forward. I’m pretty sure they’re also looking at Emi Martinez and whether he might consider a move at the end of the season.”
Cutler on Martinez
Cutler said: “We were working a lot on him showing how passionate he is, showing his desire and I think that shows more and more in the way that he plays, he shows people he cares and you can see that real character in the way he plays now rather than two years ago, when he would go within himself a little bit. Now he’s the complete opposite.
“His desire to keep clean sheets and keep the ball out of the net is the best I’ve ever known. He’d do anything to keep a clean sheet or stop someone scoring a penalty. His desire is huge, typically South American, his passion.
“Emi will do anything it takes. Any little thing to put someone off, or get an advantage then he’s going to do it because he doesn’t care about any backlash, he doesn’t care about the person he’s up against, he doesn’t care how they feel and he doesn’t care whether or not people call it unsporting behaviour.
“I think Argentina’s fortunes changed when Emi started playing for them. The Copa America was the first trophy Messi won with Argentina and Emi was a huge part of that and a huge character so he maybe feels that Emi has been the difference. I think he actually has been and that’s why Messi respects him so much.”
man Martinez has gone from strength to strength since he eventually got his big break at Arsenal when Bernd Leno got injured in 2020.
Now, he is close to footballing immortality and if he does get it, he will come back to Villa as a national hero, but he may also have ambitions to play in the Champions League.
Villa are ambitious but cannot guarantee that right now, while it remains to be seen how Spurs go big for when they look to replace Lloris.