Manchester United questioned for not securing Emiliano Martinez in the summer
Manchester United have been in a bit of a goalkeeping dilemma of late. We have seen Ruben Amorim & Co. shuffle goalkeepers on a consistent basis without any of them making their marks.
It started with the ill performances of Onana, and then Altay Bayindir was given his opportunities before eventually the deadline-day signing Senne Lammens settled into that #1 spot between the sticks.
But while many praised United for signing the £18m Belgian from Royal Antwerp in the summer window, a large part of the fan base was left wondering, given that the Premiership heavyweights missed out on an opportunity to sign Argentine World Cup winner Emi Martinez.
Everything was pointing towards a Villa Park exit for the former Arsenal man. There were pitch-side goodbyes. He was dropped by Unai Emery from the side. Till the final hours of the deadline day, it looked like he was Old Trafford bound.
But United decided to go with the younger option instead, as they signed Senne Lammens.
United questioned over not signing Emi Martinez
And former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has voiced his disbelief at the decision to not chase Emi Martinez in the summer. He insisted that United missed a chance to bring in a “strong character” and proven performer between the posts by not opting for the Argentine.
He said to BetVictor (as relayed by Metro).
‘The question is, why did they not bring Emi Martinez in now?’
‘Because when you bring in a serial winner, look at Gianluigi Donnarumma, you bring in a player who knows what it’s like to win titles, to win Champions Leagues.
‘Martinez has won the World Cup. He knows what the Premier League is about. He’s a big, charismatic fella, a strong character.
‘I can’t believe why they haven’t done it now.’
WAFU Opinion
On the surface, we tend to think Meulensteen is right. Not signing Emi Martinez is an opportunity missed. When your team has gaping problems at goalkeeper, bringing in someone who has established class has rarely proven to be a wrong decision.
That being said, the Manchester Reds bringing in Lammens is not too bad. He came through cheaper in wages as well as fees while he was younger as well. So if he ends up showing a sense of maturity and assurance that he has shown in the minutes he has accumulated at M16, then he might well prove to be the correct choice for the long run.
But for a club that is expected to win trophies every year, passing on Martinez in favour of a younger risk seems questionable. If Lammens cracks under the pressure, the “what if” question opens again among the supporters. That being said, United could still opt for Emi, given there have been rumours that the Premier League heavyweights could still sign him in 2026.
Do you think Man Utd made a mistake by not signing Emi Martinez last summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.