Emiliano Martinez is an unpopular figure in France after mocking Kylian Mbappe with hymns after Argentina's World Cup triumph in 2022 and continued to provoke fans for the journey from Aston Villa to PSG
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is by Paris Saint-Germain legend Bernard Lama as the controversial star prepared on the French side in the Champions League. Martinez is public enemy no. 1 in France after he enjoyed Kylian Mbappe after the last triumph of Argentina in 2022.
Martinez sang a singing in which it was called for a “minute of silence” for Mbappe while he led the Argentina parties, which led to enormous criticism of figures in France.
And this week he added fuel to the fire by wearing a hat with a French rooster in addition to photos of the recent successes of Argentina, including the World Cup profit and Copa America Triumph, when he arrived in Paris.
Martinez will receive a hostile reception in the French capital and club icon Lama admitted that he was irritated by the keeper's antics, insisting that he was a “good keeper and nothing more”.
“He is a bit annoying because of his provocations,” he told RMC Sport. “I don't like that. But otherwise he is still a good keeper, nothing more. He is not a great keeper. He is a good keeper who has good spells, who had his enchantment on the World Cup 2022. He is not the big goalkeeper.”
Martinez previously cleaned up the Mbappe-Chant incident by insisting that he had a lot of respect for the now Real Madrid star and that he complimented him after 2022.
“It's a dressing room,” he told France Football. “It should never have come out. When France defeated us in 2018, I remember hazards about Messi [involving N’Golo Kante]. The same, if a team beats Brazil, they sing about Neymar.
“There is nothing personal against Mbappe. I respect him a lot. When people sing about him or Neymar, it is because they are top players. After the final I told him it was a pleasure to play against him and that he almost alone won the game.”
Prior to the quarterfinals, Unai Emery came to defend Martinez and said that he had become much more mature in the last five years, also worked with him in Arsenal.
“He is mature,” Emery said at his press conference before the competition. “He is responsible. He will be better at controlling his emotions. I also worked with him in Arsenal before I arrived here in Aston Villa.
“I think compared to when he arrived in Aston Villa five years ago and now he is another Emiliano.
“I think he is more mature. He is a better player, a better goalkeeper and now my conversation with him is always the same. He is one of the best keeper in the world – he received the prize here in Paris.”
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