Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will speak to Emiliano Martinez about the Argentina goalkeeper’s controversial World Cup celebrations when he returns to club duty with the Premier League side.
Martinez made a key save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in extra-time and then denied Kingsley Coman in a penalty shoot-out in Qatar as Argentina beat France in a thrilling final.
Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
But he was seen making a crude gesture after winning the golden glove trophy for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
Then, during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires, he was seen holding a baby doll with its face covered by a photograph of France star striker Kylian Mbappe.
In the final, Mbappe scored a hat-trick as France twice fought back to take the game to a penalty shootout and then beat Martinez with the opening spot-kick.
“When you have big emotion, sometimes it is difficult to control it,” Emery told reporters on Friday.
Sam Kerr stars for Chelsea with stunner! | 00:27
MORE COVERAGE
Can’t sell tickets … but members allowed: Victory handed sanctions for derby riot
EPL State of Play: Arsenal’s transfer bid to fill $80m void; big call Liverpool must make
Fresh WC controversy amid claims Messi’s goal should be disallowed
“I will speak to him next week about some celebrations. We are so proud of him. He won the World Cup with his national team and it’s amazing.
“He’s coming back next week. I want him to rest now because after big emotion and hard work, he has to have some days off to rest then he’ll come back to work with us.”
However, Crystal Palace manager and former World Cup winner Patrick Vieira believed Martinez crossed the line with some of his celebrations, especially when it came to the Mbappe taunts.
“Some of the pictures I saw from the Argentine goalkeeper take away a little bit from what Argentina achieved at the World Cup,” Vieira said.
“I don’t think they really needed that. You can’t control people’s emotions sometimes, but that was a stupid decision from Martínez to do that.”
