Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been a revelation for the club ever since joining in 2020.
The Aston Villa stopper has helped take his team to new heights, turning them into a Champions League competitor.
Villa are currently sixth in the Premier League table and in the Champions League qualification picture going into the final day of the season.
The future is bright at Villa, and Martinez has now spoken highly about one of the club’s young talents who could make an impact next term.
READ MORE: Peter Crouch says £63m player would be a ‘special’ signing for Aston Villa this summer
Emiliano Martinez says fellow Aston Villa goalkeeper Joe Gauci ‘likes to train a lot’ and ‘loves the game’
Emiliano Martinez was interviewed by Australian sports outlet Optus Sport, and he was quizzed on a number of topics about his career and his club.
He was asked about Joe Gauci, the Australian goalkeeper on Villa’s books who has just completed a loan stint at Barnsley.
“He is a really good guy to be fair,” said Martinez. “Very physical, he likes to train a lot in the gym and outside.
“He likes to improve, he gets really upset when he concedes a goal, and he loves the game.
“It’s something that, for a goalkeeper, if you don’t love what you do, it’s hard to reach to the top. And he does love the game.”
What the future could hold for Joe Gauci at Aston Villa
Gauci joined Villa from A-League side Adelaide United in January 2024 for a fee reportedly worth around £1.3million.
He joined the Villans as Martinez’s understudy, and he has made two outings for the club, both coming in the Carabao Cup this season.
Gauci then spent the second half of the season on loan at League One side Barnsley, though a hip injury meant he only made seven appearances.
Gauci’s Villa contract runs until 2028, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be going anywhere permanently just yet.
And with veteran keeper Robin Olsen leaving Villa Park this summer, the Australia international is likely to become the club’s number two at the very least.
With Villa open to selling Martinez and Joan Garcia being eyed as a replacement, Gauci could find himself being understudy to a different goalkeeper next term.
