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Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez extends until 2027 with Aston Villa

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Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez has extended his contract until 2027 with Aston Villa.

Dibu has found a home with Aston Villa as he will remain there for another five years. The club announced the extension on Friday.

Martínez joined the club ahead of the 2020-2021 season and has been the starter since joining them. Speaking with VillaTV, here is what he had to say abouy his extension:

I won a major tournament with Argentina not long ago and every time I come through the tunnel at Villa Park on a matchday, I can see the crowd, the lights, the fans excited for us to play.

“Just before coming out [on to the pitch], I see the Champions League trophy and the FA Cup trophy and that’s where I want to get.

“I want to be in a Champions League final with Villa, I want to be at Wembley playing in an FA Cup final or EFL final.

“That’s why I’m committing five and a half years to this club because that’s where I want to get.

“When I signed for Aston Villa, obviously I had massive ambitions about being in Europe and being the best version of myself, and the club have opened a really good door for me.

“They made me a better goalkeeper, with the goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler, Christian [Purslow], Johan [Lange], they’re good people, very loyal and ambitious as well, like the owners.

“So winning a major tournament for Argentina, thank you to Aston Villa for developing me as a good goalkeeper; and I think actually I can improve much more here and I want to commit my future here.

“It feels like home.”

Since joining Villa, he has also become the undisputed goalkeeper for the Argentina national team.

Angel Correa suffers muscle discomfort, a doubt for Argentina

Angel Correa suffered a muscle discomfort and is a doubt for Argentina.

Correa has been called up to the Argentina national team and he could miss both of the World Cup qualifying matches. According to AS, Correa felt muscle discomfort at the end of Atletico’s Copa del Rey match against Real Sociedad.

Tests were done on Friday but no statement has been released. Joaquin Correa of Inter is also a doubt after he was substituted out only three minutes into Inter’s Coppa Italia match. Here is the Argentina team for the two World Cup qualifying matches:

Goalkeepers:
Franco Armani (River Plate)
Esteban Andrada (Monterrey)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Juan Musso (Atalanta)

Defenders:
Nahuel Molina (Udinese)
Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla)
Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina)
German Pezzella (Real Betis)
Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
Lisandro Martinez (Ajax)
Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax)
Marcos Acuna (Sevilla)

Midfielders:
Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina)
Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)
Leandro Paredes (PSG)
Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis)
Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)
Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla)
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa)

Forwards:
Angel Di Maria (PSG)
Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid)
Julian Alvarez (River Plate)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Joaquin Correa (Inter)
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Nicolas Tagliafico scores for Ajax in 9-0 win vs. Excelsior Maassluis

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Nicolas Tagliafico scored for Ajax in their 9-0 win vs. Exelsior Maassluis.

Tagliafico captained Ajax to the 9-0 win in the KNVB Cup as he scored the opening goal of the match. With the score at 0-0, Tagliafico had a great shot from outside of the penalty area in which he scored to give them the 1-0 lead.

The Argentine has been linked with a move away from the club this transfer window. Both Napoli and FC Barcelona have been linked to signing him with Napoli reportedly interested in a loan move.

@mundoalbiceleste Nicolas Tagliafico scores for Ajax! #nicolastagliafico #tagliafico #ajax #Football #Futbol #Soccer #Argentina ♬ original sound – Mundo Albiceleste

Roberto Abbondanzieri comments on Emiliano Martinez as Argentina goalkeeper

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Roberto Abbondanzieri spoke about Emiliano Martinez being the Argentina goalkeeper.

Abbondanzieri represented Argentina at the 2006 World Cup. He was the starting goalkeeper and won numerous titles with Boca Juniors. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here is what he had to say about Martinez:

“I have known Dibu for a while. We have the same agent that is Gustavo Goni and he would always mention to us that there was a goalkeeper in England.

“I’m very surprised by his form with the Argentina national team. Putting on the Argentina shirt is not easy at all. And he put on his shoulders a team that had been beaten through the finals lost. Becoming Copa America champion was what he was missing to become the starter of the Argentine goal.

“He has a bit of everything: He controls the area, he makes himself bigger than he actual is and he is very strong at crosses.”

The former Argentina goalkeeper was a great penalty stopper himself. He also spoke about Emiliano’s tactics during penalty kicks:

“I would only tell him to remain as serious as he was in the first games. For a national team goalkeeper, I like something else. In any case, everyone has their own personality. And Argentina is very calm with Dibu in goal.

“I think when he’s in goal, he already shows his personality, I see him as very firm, he has a big presence.”

Joaquin Correa could be out for lengthy time for Inter

Joaquin Correa is set to be out for a lengthy amount time for Inter.

Correa was substituted out for Inter three minutes into their Coppa Italia match against Empoli. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 27 year old suffered a thigh injury. It would be the same thigh injury he suffered back in December which kept him out for three Serie A matches.

The Argentine was selected by Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni for the January and February World Cup qualifying matches.