Exclusive: Man Utd MUST Sign World Cup Winner Emiliano Martínez, says Club Legend

Club legend Sammy McIlroy would love it if Manchester United signed World Cup winning shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez.

Experienced Argentina international Martinez has been a revelation for Aston Villa ever since joining the Midlands club in a £20million deal in September 2020.

The 32-year-old keeper has been a star player during his five-year stint at the club, especially last season having helped Unai Emery’s improving side reach the Champions League quarter-finals, an FA Cup semi-final and achieve an impressive sixth-place Premier League finish.

However, he left Villa Park in floods of tears after the club’s final home game of the season last term in what looked like a goodbye to the club’s supporters.

And it was against suitors Manchester United that he was sent-off in the final Premier League game of the season, a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford.

“I’d have him (Martinez) tomorrow, he’s a great keeper,” stressed McIlroy, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“He’s got the Premiership experience, he’s an international class goalkeeper and he’s got a little bit of an ego, which is something you want in a keeper."

“He’s a very good keeper, that’s the type of keeper I think the United fans would respect and really like."

“We need a solid goalkeeper. That’s how you win matches – and that’s how you win titles and cups."

“You need to be solid at the back and have a solid goalkeeper. We need to get these exciting players into the club."

“I’m not saying break the bank and turn everything upside down, but we need to sign these top players.”

INCREASING CRITICISM

United's current number one Andre Onana came under increasing criticism last season for his high-profile mistakes as the club finished 15th in the Premier League, the club’s worst-ever finish in the top-flight.

The Cameroon international will not play in the club’s pre-season tour of the United States after suffering a hamstring injury in training.

Turkish keeper Altay Bayindir is now set to be United boss Ruben Amorim’s first-choice keeper in pre-season.

However, Bayindir also struggled to impress last season when Onana was dropped for his errors.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Onana’s future and the Turkish boy Bayindir not being up to it,” reflected McIlroy, who scored 71 goals and played 419 games for United in team’s which included greats George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.

“Onana has had his good moments and so has Bayindir, but consistently you need a top-class keeper."

COSTLY MISTAKES

“Onana made some wonderful saves last season, but unfortunately he did make a lot of mistakes."

“Being a goalkeeper is such a weird position to be in. You’re judged on your mistakes at the end of the day."

“You could have a great 80 minutes and make some great saves, but then you make a big mistake in the 85th-minute and everyone remembers that."

“That’s nothing new though, that’s been for all goalkeepers for day one and that’s the pressure they’re under. For me, the best goalkeepers in the world don’t make regular mistakes," he concluded.