Atlanta United star Josef Martinez headed to Inter Miami
ATLANTA (AP) — Josef Martinez, the 2018 MVP and centrepiece of Atlanta United’s rise to prominence in Major League Soccer, was launched by the group on Wednesday and rapidly signed a cope with Inter Miami.
The corresponding strikes weren’t surprising, given Martinez’s struggles final season beneath United coach Gonzalo Pineda.
Still, it was jarring news for Atlanta’s passionate fan base, which had adopted the 29-year-old Venezuelan as certainly one of its personal. He even had a big mural painted on a wall close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After three stellar seasons that included main United to the MLS Cup championship in simply its second 12 months within the league, Martinez by no means appeared to regain that kind following a knee harm within the 2020 opener.
Now, he’s headed to South Florida.
“Josef has played a pivotal role in Atlanta United’s history, scoring memorable goals and hoisting multiple trophies for moments that will forever live with our supporters,” Atlanta technical director Carlos Bocanegra stated. “He will always be part of Atlanta United and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.”
Martinez had lengthy expressed a need to spend the remainder of his profession in Atlanta, even taking nice pleasure in studying English so he would match higher in the neighborhood.
But the connection with the membership soured, so he’s desirous to get a recent begin in Miami.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to represent Inter Miami and give the best of myself,” he said in a statement released before an introductory news conference. “This is a club with high aspirations and that aims to be amongst the best in the league. I hope to help the team achieve its objectives and leave my mark at the club.”
Martinez definitely left his mark in Atlanta, changing into the face of the enlargement franchise after becoming a member of from Torino in Italy’s Serie A earlier than the inaugural season in 2017.
He scored 19 objectives in 20 matches that 12 months, serving to United attain the playoffs.
The 2018 season was even higher. He scored a then-record 31 objectives to win the MLS Golden Boot, was chosen because the league’s MVP and celebrated once more on the finish of the marketing campaign as United captured the MLS Cup earlier than greater than 70,000 followers in Atlanta.
Martínez adopted with one other large season in 2019, scoring 27 objectives in MLS play and 33 objectives throughout all competitors, however United misplaced at residence within the convention finals.
In the 2020 MLS opener, Martinez went down with a torn ACL that stored him out the remainder of the 12 months. Atlanta, in the meantime, went by way of turmoil within the teaching ranks, going by way of 4 managers in lower than two years earlier than Pineda was employed through the 2021 season.
He by no means appeared to mesh with the group’s largest star, who was upset at being introduced off the bench this previous season. Martinez was even suspended for per week for what was described as conduct detrimental to the group.
