Emiliano Martinez ditches Chelsea’s No 26 shirt after just one game – despite seeking John Terry’s blessing to wear his iconic number
Emiliano Martinez has switched Chelsea squad numbers after just one match with the Argentine taking up the No1 shirt.
Martinez completed a £7.5million move from Aston Villa last week and wore the No26 when he made his debut against Brighton.
The 34-year-old’s arrival led to Robert Sanchez’s departure from the club with the Spaniard joining Como in a loan move on deadline day.
Chelsea have now confirmed Martinez has opted to take up the No1 shirt previously worn by Sanchez.
‘Our summer signing originally took the No.26 shirt for the Blues and wore it in our 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge,’ Chelsea said.
‘However, due to Robert Sanchez’s loan move to Como, the No.1 shirt has since become vacant and our Argentinian international has opted to take that number.
Emi Martinez has opted to switch shirt numbers to become Chelsea’s new No.1
Martinez had worn the No26 shirt when he made his Chelsea debut against Brighton
‘In recognition of the change, and those impacted, Emi has kindly offered to sign all ‘Martinez 26’ shirts that had been obtained via the official Club Megastore or official Club website.
‘In order to arrange this, supporters will be required to bring this shirt to Stamford Bridge along with proof of purchase by October 4.’
Martinez’s decision to switch comes despite Chelsea’s legendary former captain John Terry giving him his blessing to wear the No26 he had worn during his Blues career.
The Argentine had declared he was going to wear Terry’s squad number ‘with pride’.
‘I remember using the 26 on loan a few times with previous clubs, and of course I knew John Terry famously had the 26 here,’ Martinez said.
‘John was someone I spoke to before I joined, and he said he was over the moon to have me here.
‘From our time together at Aston Villa, he knows how hard I work and what I can bring to Chelsea.
‘The morning I signed, I texted him and said, “I’m wearing your shirt, and I’m going to do it with pride”.’
Terry had lauded the signing of Martinez last week as he confirmed he had given him the blessing to wear No26.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry had given Martinez his blessing last week to wear No.26
‘Emi Martinez coming in the building, I think he has to be the signing of the summer. What a world class goalkeeper he is,’ Terry said.
‘If I had the choice of any goalkeeper in the world in terms of goalkeeper, he would be right at the very top for me.
‘We signed him at Aston Villa from Arsenal and he was unbelievable, the confidence he shows, the way he trains, the influence he had on a group of players, the mindset is incredible.
‘He is someone who wants to win every day, hates conceding goals in training, loves keeping clean sheets. Everything about this guy, trust me, is top, top.
‘He’s taking the 26 shirt, yes, we’ve given the green light, you can take the 26 shirt. You know why, because he loves keeping clean sheets as much as I did when I wore the 26 shirt. Hopefully that serves him well, what a keeper, what a player.’
Since Terry’s retirement, Kalidou Koulibaly and Levi Colwill have both worn his former shirt number.
Colwill wore the shirt for one season before opting to switch to No6.
