England has been home to Emi Martinez for almost 17 years. Yet while the country has shaped him as a person and a player, it is the values instilled while growing up in the Argentine city of Mar del Plata that have underpinned his career.
Martinez officially began his journey in the English game – and eventually to becoming a Chelsea player – in August 2010. He had developed a reputation as one of South America's most promising goalkeepers while in the Independiente youth system and earned a move to Arsenal.
Far away from home, Martinez had to adapt quickly. Within a year, he had learned English and passed his driving test. Yet on the pitch, it took far longer for the goalkeeper to make his mark.
There were several loans in the Football League, and a brief spell in La Liga with Getafe, but as the 2019/20 campaign reached its conclusion, Martinez got a run in the Arsenal first team and never looked back.
He lifted the FA Cup and the Community Shield before joining Aston Villa. During Martinez's time in the Midlands, he established himself as Argentina's first-choice goalkeeper and lifted two Copa Americas and a FIFA World Cup.
In each of those triumphs, Martinez's drive and determination have shone through. And that mentality was formed in his childhood, as he explained in his first interview since becoming a Blue, which you can watch in full for free above.
'Becoming a footballer was always to help my family, to get them a better life and take them out of poverty,' Martinez explained. 'That drive is still in my football career. It doesn’t matter what I’ve won or where I’ve reached, I want more.
'I want them to be proud of me. Now I’ve got kids, I want them to see nothing comes easy in life. So I am still competing and I want more.’
Martinez has joined the Blues after six seasons at Villa Park, during which he twice received the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world's best-performing goalkeeper.
Now 33 years old, Martinez has no intention of settling on his former glories. He knows the expectations that come with being a Chelsea player and wants to match them throughout his time at Stamford Bridge.
‘I give 100 per cent every game and, when you see me play every day or in training sessions, I give you my all,' he says.
'I try to win every game; it doesn’t matter who we play against. I am bringing that here to this club because it’s a winning club that wins titles and wins things.'