Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez is once again in the spotlight after Aston Villa's loss to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. The Argentine goalkeeper, World Cup champion in Qatar 2022, caught attention not only for his performance on the field but also for showing up at the Parc des Princes wearing a cap with the titles won with the Albiceleste. This gesture, which many in France saw as a provocation, sparked strong criticism from former footballer Emmanuel Petit.

Petit holds nothing back

The 1998 World Cup champion with France didn’t hold back during his appearance on the Rothen s'enflamme podcast, where he fired shots at Dibu without hesitation: "He recently said in an interview that he never goes too far. The guy needs to go to therapy, see a psychiatrist, because we don't have the same definition of limits. Honestly, that guy should learn how to control himself emotionally," said Petit, visibly upset with the goalkeeper's attitude.

Not stopping there, the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder went further: "I think Martínez has already gone too far. Enough is enough. I'm the first to accept that provoking is part of football and life in general, but he shouldn't constantly descend into degradation. He shouldn’t be disrespectful, he shouldn’t resort to harassment. But it seems like every game we’re expecting something out-of-bounds from him."

Acknowledging his talent but questioning his attitude

Despite the criticism, Petit recognized the goalkeeper’s abilities: "I think he's a really good goalkeeper, and he doesn't need that extreme motivation. But everywhere he goes, he leaves an exasperating image of his behavior." For the Frenchman, the issue isn’t his performance on the pitch, but rather his conduct off of it.

Since the 2022 World Cup final, Dibu has been marked as the "villain" in France. His gestures during the penalty shootout and subsequent celebrations sparked a rivalry that seems to have extended to the club level as well. In that context, the match against PSG became another chapter of tension, with the local fans throwing insults and chants against him.

Dibu, key for Villa despite the controversy

Despite the controversy, Martínez remains a crucial player for Aston Villa. Although the team lost 3-1 in the first leg, they will fight for an upset in the second leg at Villa Park. Meanwhile, Petit's statements reignite the ongoing debate about the limits of provocation in football and once again put Dibu in the center of attention, staying true to his defiant, no-filter style.