Lionel Messi has hailed Emi Martinez as he continues to shine for his country.
His breakthrough inside the Argentine national team coincided with them ending their long wait for a national trophy as they won the Copa America earlier in the summer.
The goalkeeper spent 8 years in the Arsenal squad but he only started playing regularly for the Gunners towards the end of the 2019/2020 season.
His fine form for the Gunners in that short time earned him the admiration of several other clubs.
He then asked Arsenal to make him their first-choice goalkeeper, but the Gunners refused.
They eventually sold him to Aston Villa and he has made them one of the strongest sides in the Premier League.
His national team career has also taken off well and he has maintained his fine form for them.
In 11 appearances for them, he has kept 7 clean sheets and Messi heaped praises on him recently.
“We have Emi, who is a phenomenon,” Messi said via Mirror Football after the victory over Colombia in the Copa America semi-final earlier.
“We knew that he was going to stop them. We know and trust him. He deserves it.”
After they beat Uruguay 3-0 in their recent World Cup qualifying match, Messi praised the goalkeeper again.
“When they come to him, he always responds,” Messi explained.
“The truth is that, once again, he established himself after the Copa America.
“Impressive and we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, without a doubt. We take advantage of it.”
what does he know about football anyways?
Only that he has won a record 6 balon di’or and he’s the favourite to win again. I know you are being sarcastic though 😄
Martinez has been praised many times by the best player on the planet currently and probably the best to have ever played football, so nothing more to say, that says it all about Arsenal’s decision to sell him. Whether Ramsdale can fill the hole created by Martinez only time will tell.
Messi is only saying what majority of us already know, but now we have Ramsdale who I’m really in love with, let’s hope he continues his fine form for us.
Isn’t it time to move on? We have Ramsdale who appears to have the character to succeed at Arsenal and has ousted Leno at the moment. I was miffed at the time that EM left but he is now our past
Says it all SueP.
It really is time to move on from this particular issue, especially given the fact we have a new keeper in place who was not involved with the Leno / EMI decision in any way shape or form.
A keeper that it seems the vast majority of us wish well, and hope he has a long and successful career at our place.
I agree. I wish we had kept him.
BUT it’s time to move on and support Ramsdale and Leno (until he leaves)