Luciano Spalletti has put the spotlight on the Emiliano Martínez situation by saying, "He's a goalkeeper who wants to change teams." Juventus want a goalkeeper upgrade, but Aston Villa are still saying Martinez is staying. The deal is not moving because the clubs are still apart on value, and Villa's public stance has not softened.

Juventus want the player, Villa want control

Spalletti also said Juventus are already covered by two goalkeepers in their squad, which is a reminder that this is not a desperate scramble. It is a measured chase. Giovanni Carnevali went a step further, saying Martinez is of interest but that valuations are "excessively high - unrealistic figures."

Villa's leverage is obvious. They finished 4th in the Premier League and ended with 65 points, while also winning 7 of their 8 Europa League matches. That is not the profile of a club that has to sell on Juventus' terms, even if Spalletti's quote has given the story a new edge.

Damian Vidagany made the club's position just as clear, saying Martinez's future is settled and he is staying this summer. For now, that is the line that matters most. Juventus may want the move, but they have not bridged the gap.

The fee dispute is still the real issue

The valuation gap remains the central problem. One report said Juventus are unwilling to go beyond €6m-7m, while another said Villa want at least €12m. A separate source placed Martinez around €10m, which only underlines how little agreement there is on a price.

That is why this feels like a negotiation rather than a near-deal. Juventus are interested, Villa are resisting, and the public quotes all point in the same direction: the transfer is still open, but it is not close.

There is also the question of succession planning. Villa have already established contact over Noah Atubolu, who has 125 appearances for SC Freiburg, along with 38 clean sheets and 182 goals conceded. Freiburg finished 7th in the Bundesliga and conceded 57 league goals, so Villa are clearly checking options beyond Martinez.

For now, though, the concrete fact is that Villa are saying he stays, Juventus are still talking, and the fee gap has not gone away.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →