During his stay from July 3 to July 6, Martinez is scheduled to participate in various engagements. These include meet-and-greets, engaging in discussions with schoolchildren at Santosh Mitra Square, and unveiling the names of Pele, Diego Maradona, and Garfield Sobers at the gates of the esteemed Mohun Bagan Club. 

“I am really excited, feeling great. It was a dream (coming to India). I had promised to come to India, I am happy to be here. India is a beautiful country,” Martinez told reporters at the airport.

Martinez will inaugurate Mohun Bagan’s Pele-Maradona-Sobers gate on Tuesday. In the past, Diego Maradona showed 11 minutes of magic in this Mohun Bagan field. This time, another Argentine will come to Mohan Bagan.

Emiliano Martinez, the talented goalkeeper who played a pivotal role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has garnered a devoted following among football enthusiasts in Kolkata. Known for their unwavering support for Argentine football, the Kolkata fans will now rally behind Martinez. His remarkable anticipation and agility contributed significantly to Argentina’s long-awaited third World Cup victory after a 36-year drought.

During his visit to Kolkata, Martinez, who currently plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League, will have the honor of meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. As the chief guest at a charity match, he will also participate in a memorial event for Maradona and spend quality time with underprivileged children. In addition, Martinez is scheduled to attend various sponsor events, adding excitement to his two-day visit to the city.

Updated: 04 Jul 2023, 11:25 AM IST