Playing through the pain for Argentina
Martinez suffered a broken and dislocated finger in May during the warm-up for Aston Villa's Europa League final victory against Freiburg. The severe injury immediately cast doubt over his involvement in Argentina's World Cup title defence, leaving the 34-year-old devastated when he first saw the scans.
Rather than undergoing surgery that would have ruled him out of the tournament, Martinez chose to play through the agony. Backed by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, the shot-stopper relied on a customised Adidas glove for protection, despite admitting the heavy strapping severely restricted his ability to grasp the ball.
'Every single night I was crying'
Speaking to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul’s YouTube channel, the veteran goalkeeper detailed the severe physical and emotional toll the injury took on his daily life. The pain was so intense that it completely altered his training methods and required immense personal sacrifice.
"The day before Algeria I was diving with one arm, diving like a zombie," Martinez explained. "If I put my hand down I was seeing stars. It was brutal. Every single night I was crying because my finger looked like a sausage."
Despite the permanent consequences, the Argentine insists he has no regrets about putting his country first. "It will never go back to how it was," he said. "I am still playing with pain. But these are the risks you take for the national team, I’d do it again."
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There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.
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A collapsed transfer to Juventus
The finger problem had significant ramifications for Martinez's club career during the summer window. A prospective move to Serie A giants Juventus ultimately broke down once the full extent of the damage was discovered during his medical assessments.
"I got an x-ray and it was broken again," the goalkeeper revealed. "That is when a transfer to a club fell through because of the finger."
Following the collapsed move to Italy, Martinez eventually secured a £7.5 million transfer to Chelsea. "They said it was possible for me to play like that, that I needed surgery, but Chelsea didn't, they didn't care," he added. "One day I will need surgery."
Recovering from a broken jaw
While his finger issue remains a long-term concern, Martinez is currently sidelined in west London with a completely different physical setback. The goalkeeper is actively recovering from a broken jaw sustained earlier this month during Chelsea's victory over Everton.
He will now focus heavily on his rehabilitation before attempting to reclaim his spot in the starting XI at Stamford Bridge. Once fully fit, the 34-year-old must continue navigating the permanent discomfort in his hand as he looks to establish himself at his new club.