---
title: "Aston Villa: Argentina will ask for Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia to be rested"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-argentina-will-ask-for-emi-martinez-and-emi-buendia-to-be-rested/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-09-26T20:10:44Z"
modified: "2022-09-26T20:10:44Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Argentina will ask for Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia to be rested

**[Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) could be asked to rest Argentine duo Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia prior to the World Cup, according to Doble Amarilla (via [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1674029/Man-Utd-Tottenham-Argentina-request-Antonio-Conte-Erik-ten-Hag-Lisandro-Martinez)).**

### The lowdown

Martinez was Argentina’s [first-choice goalkeeper in World Cup qualifying](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/nationalmannschaft/spieler/111873), starting eight of their 11 matches. Meanwhile, Buendia [made his international debut](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-buendia/nationalmannschaft/spieler/321247) at the start of this year, and while he hasn’t featured since, he may retain hope of forcing a way into the squad for the finals in Qatar.

The Premier League is set to temporarily halt for the World Cup after the weekend of 12/13 November, resuming on Boxing Day.

### The latest

As per [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1674029/Man-Utd-Tottenham-Argentina-request-Antonio-Conte-Erik-ten-Hag-Lisandro-Martinez), the Argentine FA are reportedly set to cause ‘uproar’ by requesting that their squad members be rested for the final round of pre-World Cup fixtures so that they can enter the tournament with a fully-fit squad.

The decision will lie with the clubs, but there’s an expectation that they’ll hold talks with the players concerned.

[Aston Villa latest news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-news-2/)

### The verdict

You can understand why Argentina would go to such lengths. They’ll view this as an opportunity win the World Cup for the first time since 1986, having [beaten Brazil 1-0](https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiZ8vaX27L6AhXkTEEAHbvVB4sQFnoECA0QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Flifestyle%2Fsports%2Fargentina-beat-brazil-1-0-win-copa-america-2021-07-11%2F&usg=AOvVaw0GiF-VIamvOwuwTxaS-Nzn) in last year’s Copa America final to establish themselves as the best team on the continent.

Of course Villa would be well within their rights to flatly turn them down and protect their own interests. Indeed, Martinez and Buendia are two big players, bought for a combined £53m in the last two years ([£20m](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-20m-emiliano-martinez-transfer-goalkeeper-aston-villa-a4548496.html) and [£33m](https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-06-07/norwich-city-confirm-emi-buenda-will-join-aston-villa-in-club-record-deal) respectively) and making [71](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Archive/England-Aston-Villa) Premier League appearances between them last season.

It’s worth noting that Brighton, their opponents on 13 November and the final fixture prior to the World Cup, could also receive a phone call about Alexis Mac Allister, so potential Argentine interference may aid Villa to an extent along with discommoding them.