Emi Martinez looks increasingly likely to remain at Aston Villa this season after boss Unai Emery handed him a starting role against Brentford.

Martinez starts for VillaHad been linked with Man UtdHis first game back after suspensionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Villa boss has given Martinez his first start of the season away at Brentford on Saturday following a summer of speculation surrounding the Argentina international's future. Martinez missed the opening game of the 2024-25 campaign, the final game of his three-match suspension, which rolled over from last term. Incidentally, Man United have been heavily linked with Villa's keeper. 

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With major question marks hanging over Man United pair Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, the links with the Argentine are to be expected. But with Martinez being switched straight back into the Villans' starting line-up, plus United's growing links with Senne Lemmans from Royal Antwerp, it looks likely Emery will keep his No 1.  

WHAT EMERY SAID

On the possibility of summer transfers, Emery said: "We have to accept the financial rules. We know it and we are trying to get a balance, between the rules and our capacity to keep improving and getting better."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MARTINEZ?

There's a little over a week left in the transfer window and all signs suggest Martinez will remain Villa's first-choice keeper. And with the 2026 World Cup coming over the horizon, he will be best-placed to keep his place in the squad for defending champions Argentina.