Emiliano Martinez revealed that a severe finger injury sustained in May will never return to normal, admitting to a harrowing “zombie” struggle with Argentina where he played through intense pain every night. The Chelsea goalkeeper rejected immediate surgery to defend his country’s title.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Depth Chart Vulnerability: Recovery from a separate broken jaw sustained against Everton leaves Martinez sidelined, threatening his immediate grip on the starting XI at Stamford Bridge.
- Transfer Valuation Drop: Medical flags regarding the permanent finger damage caused a move to Juventus to collapse during the summer window before Chelsea finalized a £7.5 million deal.
The Agony Behind the Argentina Defense
The physical breakdown began during the warm-up for Aston Villa’s Europa League final victory against Freiburg in May, when Martinez suffered a broken and dislocated finger. Facing a choice between immediate corrective surgery that would rule him out of the tournament and playing through the agony, the 34-year-old chose his national team.
Backed by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, the shot-stopper relied on a customised Adidas glove for protection. The heavy strapping severely restricted his ability to grasp the ball.
“The day before Algeria I was diving with one arm, diving like a zombie,” Martinez explained to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul’s YouTube channel. “If I put my hand down I was seeing stars. It was brutal. Every single night I was crying because my finger looked like a sausage.”
Failed Medicals and the £7.5 Million Chelsea Switch
The extent of the skeletal damage had immediate repercussions in the European transfer market. A prospective transfer to Serie A giants Juventus broke down during routine medical assessments when specialists reviewed new x-rays of the hand.
“I got an x-ray and it was broken again,” Martinez stated. “That is when a transfer to a club fell through because of the finger.”
| Event / Milestone | Details | Club / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Finger Injury | Broken and dislocated finger in May warm-up | Aston Villa (Europa League final) |
| Collapsed Transfer | Medical failure due to recurring fracture | Juventus |
| Premier League Move | £7.5 million transfer following Serie A breakdown | Chelsea |
| Current Sickness / Injury | Recovering from a broken jaw | Chelsea (vs. Everton fixture) |
Following the collapsed move to Italy, Martinez secured a £7.5 million transfer to Chelsea, where club medical staff adopted a different approach to the chronic joint issue. “They said it was possible for me to play like that, that I needed surgery, but Chelsea didn’t, they didn’t care,” Martinez added.
Current Rehabilitation at Stamford Bridge
While the chronic finger issue remains a permanent fixture of his playing career, Martinez faces an entirely different timeline for his present absence in west London. The goalkeeper is currently sidelined following a broken jaw sustained earlier this month during Chelsea’s victory over Everton.
The veteran must now complete his rehabilitation protocols before turning his attention back to managing the permanent discomfort in his hand. Once fully fit, the 34-year-old must continue navigating the permanent discomfort in his hand as he looks to establish himself at his new club.
“It will never go back to how it was,” Martinez admitted regarding the long-term prognosis of his hand. “I am still playing with pain. But these are the risks you take for the national team, I’d do it again.”
