Former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic believes Emiliano Martinez is an ideal fit for the club after his summer move from Aston Villa, with Chelsea targeting a highly ambitious campaign under manager Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea completed the signing of Martinez for £7.5m after Robert Sanchez lost his place as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. Sanchez has since joined Como on a season-long loan.
Sanchez started Chelsea’s opening match of the new season against Fulham and helped his side secure a 3-2 victory. However, a number of errors in the game contributed to Alonso looking for another solution in the transfer market.
Martinez was subsequently brought in as Sanchez’s replacement, in a deal regarded by many as one of the best-value signings of the summer.
Begovic said Chelsea’s decision was understandable, despite the club having previously shown a strong commitment to Sanchez’s development.
“I completely understand why they signed E. Martinez. He has proven himself to be a top goalkeeper. His performances for the national team and Villa, and his track record over the years, all demonstrate that he is a world-class goalkeeper. This signing makes a lot of sense. Robert Sanchez did not perform well against Fulham, which probably tested the team’s patience with him. I was somewhat surprised because Chelsea had always been keen on developing Robert Sanchez. I know they were very optimistic about him and wanted to maintain that development trajectory, but a club’s patience is also finite. Chelsea has great ambitions this season, and the players they have signed and the manager they appointed prove this. So I fully understand why they made this deal, and E. Martinez is an excellent fit. He is a top goalkeeper for a top club, and this transfer makes complete sense.”
Martinez arrives at Stamford Bridge with an established reputation at both club and international level. His performances for Aston Villa, alongside his contribution to the national team, have helped establish him as one of the leading goalkeepers in world football.
Begovic believes those credentials make the Argentina international a natural choice for a Chelsea side seeking to compete at a higher level this season. He also pointed to the scale of the club’s recruitment and the appointment of Alonso as evidence of Chelsea’s ambitions.
The decision to move Sanchez on loan follows a change in the goalkeeper hierarchy after just one match of the campaign. Although Sanchez began the season between the posts, Chelsea acted quickly after his performance against Fulham raised concerns.
For Begovic, Martinez’s experience and proven record offer Chelsea greater certainty in an important position. He considers the £7.5m transfer a logical move for a club that wants to challenge with a stronger squad and has placed significant expectations on the season ahead.
