Hero of the France-Argentina 2022 World Cup final on December 18 in Qatar, Albiceleste goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stood out during the celebrations through obscene gestures and more than limited rooming once morest the star of Blues Kylian Mbappe. The doorman of Aston Villa finally explained in the columns of France Football, to be published this Saturday.
“I didn’t intend to hurt anyone.” Emiliano Martinez makes amends. If the Argentinian goalkeeper was the great architect of the Albiceleste’s triumph once morest the France team in an anthology World Cup final, he was however less inspired during the festivities.
For those who would have liked to forget this episode, remember that “Dibu” placed his trophy for best goalkeeper in the World Cup at the level of his crotch and that he also chambered Kylian Mbappé copiously by singing a song once morest the French striker (” a minute of silence for Mbappé”, song which often returns in the Argentinian locker room following big matches) before brandishing a doll in his effigy during the celebrations in Buenos Aires.
Emiliano Martinez therefore finally spoke regarding these provocations in the columns of France Football to be released this Saturday. Regarding the obscene gesture with the best goalkeeper trophy, the Argentinian assures that it was a joke with his partners. “It was a joke with my teammates. I had already done it at the Copa America, and they were all telling me, even Leo: ‘I can’t do it once more’. I did it for them, nothing more. It lasted a second and that’s it.”
“How might I make fun of Mbappé? He gave me four goals in the final”
The song regarding Mbappé? “It’s a locker room thing and it should never have come out, regrets ‘Dibu’. When France beat us in 2018, I remember that there were chants regarding Messi (regarding Kanté editor’s note ). Same, if a team beats Brazil, they will sing regarding Neymar. I have nothing once morest Mbappé, it’s nothing personal. I respect him a lot. If we sing regarding him or regarding Neymar, it’s because they’re cracks.”
As for Mbappé’s doll, which he brandished on the bus during the parade in Buenos Aires, the Aston Villa goalkeeper specifies that many dolls were thrown at them by the public and that one of them, with the face of Mbappé, had finally arrived at his feet. The time to pick it up “two seconds” and to “send it back”. “How might I make fun of Mbappé? He gave me four goals in the final… He must think that I’m his doll! I have a lot of respect for him, he’s the best French player that I saw”, replies Emiliano Martinez.
He sees Mbappé winning “many Ballons d’Or”
Finally regarding the French striker, Emiliano Martinez assures that there is no problem: “[Après la finale] I told him he had a great match […], that it was a pleasure to play once morest him and that he almost won this final on his own.” Adding later: “I had confirmation that he had immense talent. When Leo (Messi) stops, I’m sure Kylian will win many Ballon d’Ors.”
