Emiliano Martinez avoids surgery after breaking finger

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez suffered a fractured finger during the pre-match warm-up before his side's 3-0 Europa League final win against Freiburg. Despite the injury, the 33-year-old played through the pain to help secure the trophy.

Medical examinations confirmed a small fracture in his right ring finger. While initial concerns suggested an operation might be required, updates indicate that the goalkeeper will avoid surgery, with a recovery period estimated at approximately 20 days.

Reflecting on the match, Martinez explained:

Today I broke my finger during warmups, but I didn't see it as a bad thing. I've never broken a finger before and every time I tried to catch the ball, the finger would just slip away in the other direction. But, these are just things you have to go through. Emiliano Martinez

The injury puts his involvement in Argentina's final World Cup warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland in doubt. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is monitoring his progress closely, as the team prepares for their title defence opener against Algeria on June 17.

While avoiding surgery is a positive step, the lack of match fitness remains a concern for the coaching staff. Martinez is expected to focus on rehabilitation in the coming weeks, and while he remains in contention for the opening game, his participation will depend on how quickly he recovers without complications.