READING FC penned an open letter ahead of the World Cup Final to former loanee Emi Martinez who went on to help Argentina win the 2022 World Cup
Martinez became the first ever player to play for Reading to feature in a World Cup Final.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper played a huge hand in helping Argentina lift the trophy in an encapsulating final against France.
Martinez pulled off a spectacular save in the dying moments of extra-time with the contest locked at 3-3 and then made a heroic save in the penalty shootout as Argentina clinched the World Cup.
The letter reads: “Yeah…you’ll play in front of more than 80,000 in the Lusail Stadium in Doha this afternoon, competing alongside your captain Lionel Messi – against the reigning world champions – for the honour of lifting the World Cup trophy with Argentina. But can you do it on a cold night in Stoke?
“Yes you can. 16th March 2019, a memorable save from Sam Vokes, a goalless draw and a crucial point courtesy of a clean sheet earned by a certain Emi Martinez stood defiantly between the Reading posts.
“We know we cannot truly lay claim to you. But today you become the first player to have represented Reading Football Club and to play in the World Cup Final. And…once a Royal, always a Royal.”
Martinez played 18 games for the Royals in 2018/19 as he helped the club avoid relegation from the Championship with some outstanding performances.
Since his spell at Reading, his career has gone from strength to strength and he has now etched his name into football history by winning the World Cup.
The letter continues: “With one appearance for Arsenal that season, another clean sheet at home to FK Qarabag, you arrived in Reading looking for a run of games. That is all you wanted…the no.1 spot to prove yourself. We gratefully supplied you with that opportunity.
“On debut at Bolton you starred and we took home a point. But we were in the bottom three alongside Wanderers and Ipswich, a point adrift of Rotherham and five points adrift of Wigan. There was work to be done. The gloves were on.
“We lost just one of the first eight games with you as the last line of defence. And another goalless affair at home to West Brom all but secured our second-tier status when it had seemed relegation might loom.
“Along the way, when the club was struggling and the supporters were frustrated, Reading fans took you to their heart.
“As we say, we can’t claim you as our own. Nurtured at Independiente, Arsenal brought you to England and offered you European and Premier League experience, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham welcomed you for short spells in Yorkshire, Wolves and then Getafe in Spain gave you the gloves on loan and of course you continue to shine for Aston Villa week in, week out. But you made a real impact during your 18 games as a Royal. And we hope we played a very, very small part in your journey as a goalkeeper.
“We may just have been a stepping stone. But we know you relished every moment as a Royal – from the first weeks with the club when you went into the Fanstore to kit out your young son in the blue and white hoops, to the clean sheet you kept against Birmingham City on your last appearance in RG2. A year later, you were winning the FA Cup with Arsenal. Two years later you were Player of the Season at Aston Villa and winning the Copa America with your country.
“You are a player who was as dedicated to digging your loan club out of a hole as you are to winning the World Cup with Argentina later today.
“From blue and white hoops to blue and white stripes…
“Good luck Emi.”
