Juventus’s pursuit of Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is intensifying, with the Argentine goalkeeper’s agent expected in Italy as early as Saturday 13 June as negotiations move into a more concrete phase. Yet for all the momentum, this remains a genuinely complicated deal — and Aston Villa hold most of the cards.
How Juventus Ended Up Here
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that The bianconeri did not arrive at Martínez as their first choice. Juventus originally pursued Liverpool’s Alisson Becker hard, but with Andoni Iraola’s arrival as the new Liverpool manager making a sale less likely, the Italian giants shifted focus. Martínez emerged as the natural alternative — a World Cup winner, a proven performer at the highest level, and crucially a goalkeeper who has been offered to Juventus on more than one occasion in recent weeks by intermediaries around the Argentine.
What Villa Want — and Why They Have Leverage
Aston Villa have tied Martínez down to a contract until 2030 and pay him nine million euros per season. His contract running until 2029 gives Villa enormous leverage in any negotiation. The Birmingham club are asking around €20 million for the goalkeeper — a figure that, on the surface, appears manageable. The real obstacle, however, is the wage demand.
The biggest sticking point is Martínez’s salary, with the goalkeeper on a contract worth €7 million per season until 2028. For a club that has not qualified for the Champions League, matching or even approaching that figure represents a serious financial stretch.
Villa’s Parade Speech: The Complication Nobody Is Talking About
There is an emotional dimension to this story that goes beyond spreadsheets. Martínez delivered a passionate speech during Villa’s trophy parade, declaring: “People said I was going to Manchester United. They were wrong!” It was a statement of commitment that Villa supporters will not have forgotten — and one that makes the prospect of him departing for Juventus, a club without Champions League football, genuinely difficult to envisage.
Aston Villa have already begun planning their response should Juventus firm up their interest, with Manchester City’s James Trafford and Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen identified as potential replacements.
Juventus’s Plan B Remains on Standby
Should the Martínez deal prove unworkable, Juventus are not without options. Guglielmo Vicario remains under consideration, with Tottenham open to a loan arrangement. David De Gea, departing Fiorentina, offers a cost-free experienced alternative. The Sorloth deal, meanwhile, is progressing separately — Atletico Madrid have decided to sell, and Juventus already have the player’s agreement.
The agent’s visit to Italy next weekend will be telling. Juventus are genuine in their interest — but at 33, on enormous wages, contracted until 2029, and having just won a European trophy, Dibu Martínez is anything but an easy signing.
