Nicolas Otamendi has joked about how Argentina keeper Emi Martinez has “changed” and boasts a “terrible personality” after becoming a national hero.
The Aston Villa shot-stopper saw his stock soar when helping the Albiceleste to Copa America glory in 2021.
He helped to successfully defend that crown in 2024, while also becoming a World Cup winner at Qatar 2022 – with a reputation being earned as a penalty-saving specialist.
Martinez’s antics during shootouts have become the stuff of legend, with the 31-year-old becoming one of the most reliable custodians in the global game.
He had been a relative unknown prior to bursting onto the international scene, with Otamendi poking fun at how fame has gone to his fellow countryman’s head.
Otamendi, who formed part of Argentina’s squad at the 2024 Olympic Games, has told TNT Sports of Martinez’s transformation:
“Dibu was a very quiet goalkeeper, he wasn’t what he is now.
“After Colombia [at the 2021 Copa America] he changed completely, we found another version of him.
“I don’t know if his brother, who is very similar, started to play as a goalkeeper or what, but that’s when he started to change. He has a terrible personality!”
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Martinez is up to 45 caps for Argentina and had been hoping to head to Paris himself this summer, before seeing Villa block that path.
He will be back in Premier League action on Saturday when the Villans – who have Champions League football on the agenda this season – open their 2024-25 campaign away at West Ham.
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