Fabrizio Romano explains why Emiliano Martinez was crying and ‘waving goodbye’ at end of Aston Villa game

Aston Villa have boosted their Champions League hopes with a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The victory sees them climb to fifth place — currently the final qualifying position for Europe’s top competition — with 66 points. They’re now in a close battle with Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Manchester City, with one of those four likely to miss out.

The win came in Villa’s final home game of the season, which was shifted to a Friday night slot at Spurs’ request. It was another setback for Tottenham, who recently failed to land a £50 million defender. Despite the awkward timing, Villa’s players still took the chance to show their appreciation to the home supporters.

These farewell home games often hint at potential summer exits — and this one was no exception. Emiliano Martinez stole the spotlight with a visibly emotional display after full time. The Argentine goalkeeper appeared tearful and made several gestures to the fans, prompting speculation he might be saying goodbye.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano shed some light on the moment, noting that Martinez could have played his last match at Villa Park. Though not confirmed, a summer departure remains a possibility. Romano added that Martinez has received approaches from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, and he will consider both those offers and ones from European sides.

Villa, meanwhile, are already looking at potential replacements. One name in the mix is Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, who is also on Arsenal’s radar. At 32 and recently named the world’s best goalkeeper in 2024, Martinez wouldn’t be short on suitors. A move to Saudi Arabia could represent a final big payday, though any buying club would need to offer a significant fee since he’s under contract until 2029.

After the match, Villa manager Unai Emery gave a cautious response when asked about Martinez’s future: “We will see. It’s the last game here this season, and I don’t know. The team is performing well, and we’ll assess everything.”

The uncertainty hasn’t stopped fans from expressing their admiration for Martinez online. One supporter wrote: “If Dibu leaves, he gave us five incredible years. He helped us reach the Champions League, played for Argentina, and lifted the World Cup. Truly special. Always proud he was our No. 1.”