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Juventus\u2019 hunt for a new starting goalkeeper has been a saga that has now been drawn out for two months, with the start of the 2026-27 season being less than a month away and there being no actual resolution to things.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Naturally, Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti was asked about the transfer market following his team\u2019s 1-0 friendly win over Standard Li\u00e8ge on Saturday, and the goalkeeper position was a topic of discussion. Or, more specifically, top Juve target Emi Martinez of Aston Villa, who is now done with his national team responsibilities with Argentina at the World Cup. Aston Villa, however, have maintained that they have no interest in selling the 33-year-old Martinez despite Juventus\u2019 clear interest in trying to bring him to Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Another element is the fact that Spalletti said this about Martinez after Saturday\u2019s friendly:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This is probably the most direct we\u2019ve heard Spalletti talk about one of Juventus\u2019 transfer targets in the couple of times he\u2019s spoken with the press so far this preseason. And don\u2019t forget that one of the big things we heard when Juventus\u2019 interest in Martinez first broke and that he reportedly agreed personal terms with the club was that it was Spalletti who had direct contact with him to talk things over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
So is that Lucio using the post-friendly microphones to tell us some inside information?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Or is this just a negotiating tactic of sorts as Juventus are probably entering the time of the preseason in which they either try and secure a deal with Aston Villa for Martinez or pivot away from him?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As reports come out about Juventus still talking with the clubs of other potential options in goal, the clock is certainly ticking when it comes to the Bianconeri\u2019s chances of actually signing Martinez. It\u2019s either get Martinez secured soon or move on to other players despite the fact that Dibu is clearly the best of the bunch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n