Yahoo News How Emi Martinez cost Drake $2.8m as Unai Emery plots reunion for next Aston Villa transfer
Anticipation is building with Aston Villa players returning to training and the new season on the horizon.
Activity has sparked up again at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground with plenty of interesting details spotted so far. The players are preparing just as hard as there is anticipation around the regular transfer gossip that escalates over the summer months.
Recently things have been quieter on that front. Some exits have been confirmed, as have the arrivals that Unai Emery and Co lined up in the early weeks of the window. Now, the only thing for the staff to do is react to any further movement in the market and base decisions on pre-season training, which will be impacted by the late return of key players from international duty.
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With that said, Birmingham Live brings you the latest from Villa Park on this busy week of news and transfer gossip...
Martinez saves send Argentina to Copa final - at a big cost
Emi Martinez will have another shot at international glory as Argentina booked their place in this year's Copa America final as the world champions routinely defeated Canada 2-0 overnight.
Villa's goalkeeper played a pivotal role too, as both nations ended the night with the exact same number of attempts on goal. Martinez's four saves to Canada's two made the difference though, with TyC Sports saying 'he saved two balls that were worth the win', whilst La Voz commented particularly on his stop at the end of the first half, which he tipped onto the post. Wrapping up the kind sentiments, La Nation 's review simply read: "ALWAYS SAVES YOU."
However, in tournament football a player cannot be universally popular. At the expense of Martinez's heroics a nation of 38.9m people have exited the tournament at the semi-final stage and one of those, Canadian music artist Drake who is known to place big bets on sport events, lost out on a $2.8m payday from a $300k stake on his country to win:
The final is due to take place in the early hours of Monday morning for UK supporters, with Argentina to face either Colombia or Uruguay.
Birmingham Live says: For club and country, Martinez continues to show his value. Villa truly have a special goalkeeper and let's hope it stays that way for as many years as humanly possible. There is the matter of the club denying him the opportunity to represent his country at the Olympic Games as it would have meant starting the new season without him. Hopefully, once Martinez has had a chance to take a summer break he will come back refreshed, Copa America medal in hand and forgotten about that last fact, ready to attack the season ahead.
Guendouzi rumours resurface as Emery reunion rebuffed
According to the back pages of Gazzetta dello Sport via LazioNews24, Lazio's not-for-sale stance over Matteo Guendouzi remains with Aston Villa and Newcastle United interest recently waved away.
Emery, who managed the French midfielder when both at Arsenal, has been rumoured to want to bring his former student to Villa Park ever since taking up his current position. Meanwhile Guendouzi has ventured down a different path, joining Serie A side Lazio on loan last year before his option to buy was triggered heading into this summer.
Even if only just moving permanently, that hasn't stopped the suggestion that Villa have tabled and seen rejected a £21.1m offer. Similarly, Newcastle are said to have had £25m turned down with the Italians not eager at all to do business.
Birmingham Live says: Being honest, Guendouzi never lit up the Premier League in his time here. Granted he was still a teenager with a lot to learn, but he is far from the greatest midfield signing this country has seen over the past decade. If Emery feels he can extract the best talents out of the individual with much more experience under his belt, then I trust him. Equally though there are numerous better - even if more ambitious - options out there.
