Juventus turn to alternatives after Villa raise demands
Juventus have reached a standstill in negotiations to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, prompting the Serie A club to evaluate alternative goalkeeping targets including Tottenham Hotspur’s Guglielmo Vicario and Noah Atubolu of SC Freiburg.
The Turin side had hoped to secure the Argentina international following his World Cup final heroics, where he made 11 saves despite his country’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, personal terms for a three-year contract worth €5 million per season plus performance-related bonuses have been agreed with the 33-year-old, who turns 34 in September.
Fee dispute blocks progress
However, a significant gap remains between the clubs on the transfer fee. Juventus have tabled a loan with an obligation to buy totalling €6.5 million, but Aston Villa are now demanding at least €12 million to release their goalkeeper, whose current deal runs until June 2029. Earlier reports had suggested Villa sought closer to €10 million.
Juventus are unwilling to match these demands. Martinez, who reportedly wishes to make the move, is expected to take an extended break after reaching the World Cup final and will not return to training with Aston Villa for several weeks. The club had hoped the goalkeeper might persuade Villa to lower their asking price once he returns, but the current impasse has forced them to consider other options.
Di Gregorio exit forces contingency plans
The urgency stems from Michele Di Gregorio’s expected departure from Juventus, leaving the Bianconeri without an established first-choice goalkeeper. Beyond Vicario, the Italian side have noted 24-year-old Atubolu—who enters the final year of his contract with Freiburg—as a new target. Zion Suzuki of Parma and Napoli’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic have also been mentioned as alternatives.
While Martinez remains the preferred option for Juventus supporters, who renewed calls for his signature following his tournament displays, the financial deadlock means chief executive Giovanni Carnevali must prepare contingency plans. The club now faces a decision on whether to increase their offer significantly or pivot to one of the younger alternatives before the transfer window closes.