Martinez has spent the last year working with Unai Emery, with Aston Villa appointing the Spaniard shortly afterĀ Andrea Radrizzani considered targeting Emery as a replacement for Jesse Marsch.
Unai Emery suggested that Emiliano Martinez should reject Leeds in 2019
It is not the first time Martinez and Emery have worked together, with the pair previously at Arsenal before the manager was dismissed in 2019.
Like Emery, Martinez was linked with a move to Leeds earlier in his career. TheĀ Daily MailĀ reported in January 2019 that the Whites were keen on the goalkeeper before they signedĀ Kiko Casilla.
And it seems that Emery played an important role in Leeds not signing Martinez. According toĀ The TimesĀ this weekend, Emery suggested to the 31-year-old that he would be better off joining Reading.
Emery felt that there would be more pressure on Martinez because the Royals were lower down the table.
How history could have been different
It would be interesting to know whether history would have been particularly different for Leeds had they landed Martinez in that window.
Casilla would ultimately join. But he would prove to be a hugely disappointing signing, in lots of ways.
He did play his part in our promotion the following season. But Casilla made plenty of mistakes during his time as number one, including in the second-leg of the play-off semi-final when Marcelo Bielsaās side appeared to be cruising towards Wembley.
Obviously, few could have seen how good Martinez would become. But had he joined Leeds on loan that January and helped us get promoted, perhaps the Whites would have looked to make his move permanent.
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