The most hated man in France speaks to the French. A little less than two months after winning the World Cup with Argentina, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, as brilliant on the pitch against the Blues as he was pathetic when presenting the trophy, with his celebration in more than dubious taste – not to mention the XXL chamber against Kylian Mbappé -, chose France Soccer to give his version of the facts and explain that he had “not intended to hurt anyone”.
About the best goalkeeper trophy, exhibited on the podium of the Lusail stadium in an obscene manner, the Aston Villa goalkeeper explains that “it was a joke with (his) teammates”. “I had already done it at the Copa America, and they all told me, even Leo: ‘Not going to do it again’. I did it for them, nothing more. It lasted a second and that’s it. »
Chambering, nothing more
Regarding the song “a minute of silence for Kylian Mbappé” launched by the goalkeeper and taken up by the entire Argentinian locker room, Martinez evokes a simple joke, common in Argentina. “It’s a locker room thing and it should never have come out, he regrets. When France beat us in 2018 I remember there were chants about Messi [dans la chanson en hommage à N’Golo Kanté]. Same, if a team beats Brazil, they will sing about Neymar. I have nothing against Mbappé, there is nothing personal. I respect him enormously. If we sing about him or Neymar, it’s because they’re cracks. »
The one nicknamed “Dibu” even claims to have spoken with Mbappé after the penalty shootout to tell him all the good things he thought of him. “I told him he had a great game […], that it was a pleasure to play against him and that he almost won this final on his own, ”explains Martinez to our colleagues. Finally, “last but not least”, with regard to the Mbappé doll, brandished from the bus during the victory celebrations in Buenos Aires, on the return from Albiceleste, Martinez assures us that many dolls at the effigies of the French players were thrown at them by the public and that he had simply picked up that of Mbappé in order to “return” it to the crowd.
“The best French player I’ve seen”
“How could I make fun of Mbappé? he asks. 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 I’ve seen. “The Argentinian goalkeeper finally clarifies that he has nothing against France and the French, as evidenced by his career in England and the players with whom he played.
“There are some things that I probably wouldn’t do the same again. I didn’t intend to hurt anyone. Throughout my career I had the opportunity to play with French people and I never had the slightest problem. At Aston Villa I play with Lucas (Digne), Morgan (Sanson) and Boubacar (Kamara)… At Arsenal, I met Alexandre (Lacazette), Mattéo (Guendouzi) and Olivier (Giroud). You can ask ‘Oli’ what kind of person I am. I really like the French culture and mentality. Come on, no hard feelings, “Dibu”.