Why Emiliano Martinez rejected ‘other offers’ to join Chelsea | Football

Emiliano Martinez rejected ‘other offers’ in favour of a move to Chelsea, according to reports.

The World Cup winner has completed a move to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea agreed a £7.5m deal with Aston Villa.

Chelsea looked set to put their faith in Robert Sanchez again this season but club chiefs performed a U-turn after his shaky performance in the Premier League opener against Fulham.

Martinez, who joined Aston Villa six years ago in a £20m deal from Arsenal, has been pushing for a move away from the Midlands club all summer.

Villa sanctioned the Argentine’s exit after signing Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma at the start of the month.

Martinez was close to joining Juventus earlier in the window and rejected offers from other clubs in favour of a move to west London.

According to The Guardian, 33-year-old Martinez quickly made Chelsea his first-choice option as he was keen to play under Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso.

Discussing his move, Martinez told Chelsea’s official website: ‘I’m delighted to be at this football club.

‘Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon – I can’t wait to get started.

‘I want to be successful here. I’m someone who wants to win at everything I do and I want to bring that here to this football club because it’s a football club that wins titles, so I think it’s a good match.

‘I’m all passion and I play with my heart. I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud.’

Chelsea finished just 10th in the Premier League last season but have been tipped to at least climb back into the Champions League places under Alonso.

Martinez, who has signed a two-year deal with Chelsea, will come straight into the team after finalising his move with Sanchez demoted not one but two places.

Belgian shot-stopper Mike Penders is expected to be Martinez’s back-up at Chelsea, with Sanchez set to be frozen out unless he leaves before the summer transfer window closes.

Despite Sanchez’s struggles at Stamford Bridge, The Guardian say he has already attracted interest from clubs in England, Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris has backed the club’s pursuit of Martinez despite seeing signs of improvement from Sanchez last season.