AdminJuventus have reportedly ended their pursuit of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez after deciding the cost of a potential deal is too high.
The Serie A giants had been heavily linked with Martinez throughout the summer, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Juventus have now informed Villa that they are no longer interested in pursuing the Argentina international.
The decision comes after Juventus chief executive Giovanni Carnevali previously confirmed Martinez was among the club’s targets, although he warned that inflated transfer valuations could prove difficult to overcome.
“Martinez is playing (at the World Cup) so we have to wait and see.
“He is a goalkeeper who interests us. However, I reiterate what I said earlier regarding Juventus: there could be many opportunities.
“We need to evaluate things carefully, especially right now, given that the valuations for some players are excessively high – unrealistic figures.”
Villa, meanwhile, have consistently maintained that Martinez is not available for transfer this summer.
“The goalkeeper’s future is settled, he is staying with us, and we have no intention of letting him go this summer,” Vidagany said.
“The team needs his efforts and extensive experience, and he is a very important element in our project for next season.
“All the news published by the media about his departure to Juventus does not reflect the club’s true position.
“Martinez is a very important player for us, and we expect him to continue delivering his outstanding performances alongside his teammates.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport had claimed Juventus were close to agreeing a three-year contract with Martinez worth €5m annually, while a €6.5m loan proposal with an option to buy was also reportedly discussed.
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