Emiliano Martinez has claimed, with tongue in cheek, that he will look to lure Lionel Messi to Aston Villa with the promise of mate and roast dinners.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is preparing to hit free agency this summer, with his contract at Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain running down.
Messi has been heavily linked with a return to Barcelona, while he is also said to have lucrative offers on the table from the Middle East and MLS.
Emiliano Martinez, though, would like to see his fellow World Cup winner join him in the Premier League, with the enigmatic goalkeeper prepared to lower his salary in order to make a sensational deal possible.
Also, Martinez who savoured global glory alongside Messi at Qatar 2022, has told ESPN after seeing his illustrious international team-mate come in for criticism from PSG supporters:
“If Leo is whistled, I would bring him to Aston Villa.
“I will bait him with mate, I will make roasts for him every weekend, I ask people to make little flags for him and he has a good time.
“I will cut my salary for Messi if necessary.”
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However, Martinez has grown close to Messi since breaking into the Argentine national team.
Also, he believes his game has benefited considerably from the experience picked up at the 2022 World Cup – with the Albiceleste prevailing in a couple of dramatic penalty shootouts.
