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Unai Emery has confirmed that Emiliano Martinez is no longer Aston Villa's vice-captain after a different player deputised for John McGinn on Thursday night.
The Argentina star, 33, has been the go-to player to lead the Villans whenever captain McGinn has not been on the pitch.
So when the Scot was not named in Emery's starting lineup for the European clash with their Israeli opponents, eyebrows were raised when Martinez did not lead the team out at Villa Park.
Instead, England international Ezri Konsa wore the captain's armband.
The move could be in response to Martinez's failed move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
The Argentine was expected to leave the club this summer after four years, and cut an emotional figure as he broke down into tears when seemingly waving goodbye to fans after Villa's last game of the season last summer.
Emiliano Martinez is no longer Aston Villa's vice captain, Unai Emery confirmed on Thursday
Martinez did not deputise for John McGinn, who was named on the bench for the European tie
He appeared to have his heart set on joining United, with reports suggesting he contacted countryman and Red Devils star Lisandro Martinez over the move, and the two clubs were in discussions right until the end of the window.
However, no move materialised and he instead stayed at Villa Park.
Emery confirmed following the team's 2-0 win that Martinez is no longer the club's vice-captain, although did not state whether the decision was connected to the failed summer switch.
'The first captain is John McGinn,' Emery said via Birmingham Live. 'We decided how we are, as well as managing the next captain.
'Usually, we have another captain, Emi Martinez, as second captain. But now, after speaking with him, I prefer to get him back.
'Konsa is the next one. Tyrone Mings, with Ollie Watkins too. Normally, we are managing it like that.'
Following the closure of the summer window, Martinez's family sought to set the record straight on the footballer's saga.
'I was told that Emi gave a lot as a professional and as a person, they love him, and you could see that on the pitch,' Martinez's brother, Alejandro, told DSports Radio. 'He is well-liked, and the directors didn't want to sell him because he is the key player in the team, and another team wanted him. It was that commercial dispute.
It is not clear whether Emery's decision is connected to the keeper's failed summer exit
Villa boss Unai Emery confirmed that Martinez is no longer among his vice captaincy options
'These are decisions made by club officials. It didn't happen, but it's like everything else in business. The sporting side of things was left out of it, and everything is fine.
'Emi never had an argument with Unai,' Alejandro added. 'It was all within the management's control, and the clubs couldn't agree.
'At Aston Villa, he's the Diego [Maradona] of Napoli. He gave a lot at Villa, like Kun [Aguero] did at City, like Leo [Messi] did at Barca. They're legendary players, and it's going to be hard to surpass what he did at Aston Villa.'
Martinez's father, Alberto, meanwhile, said: 'This is a job, this is a factory, and factories have employees. He's just another employee, and the factory won't let him go if he's good. It's all business. Tomorrow it will happen, today it didn't happen.'
Ruben Amorim's side did not make a formal approach until Martinez returned to Birmingham for pre-season training, after which they enquired about a potential loan deal to the Villains.
A move then failed to materialise on deadline day as Amorim instead chose to strike a transfer for Royal Antwerp's 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
United were potentially put off by the cost of a move for Martinez, who earns more than Andre Onana based on his current contract at Villa, with Emery's side claimed to have set a £30million fee for the Argentine shot-stopper.
