The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
United ready to talk with Martinez
Club is interested in negotiating a new deal with league MVP.
Atlanta United has reached out to Josef Martinez’s representatives about negotiating a new contract, team president Darren Eales said this week.
Martinez became the first player in MLS history to be named the MVP of the All-Star game, the league and the MLS Cup in the same season. He set the league’s scoring record in the regular season, with 31 goals, and the entire season, with 35 goals.
Martinez has three years remaining on his current contract. He had a total compensation of $1,387,318 in the 2018 season. Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco was the league’s highest-paid player with a salary of $7,115,555.67, according to the MLS Players Association salary database. Miguel Almiron was Atlanta United’s highest-paid player last season with a salary of $2,297,000.
“We are going to talk,” Eales said.
Though reportedly a transfer target for other clubs, Martinez, a 25-year-old native of Venezuela, has repeatedly said he enjoys living in Atlanta and playing for Atlanta United. He said he would want to leave only when the club decides it no longer needs him.
No offers for Almiron: Atlanta United hasn’t received any official offers for Miguel Almiron, Eales said.
Almiron reportedly is a transfer target of several clubs in England, with Newcastle the most recent to show interest.
Almiron, a 24-year-old native of Paraguay, has 22 goals, 30 assists and an MLS Cup in the past two seasons. He finished second to teammate Josef Martinez in MVP voting during the 2018 season.
The transfer window, which is when the buying and selling of players can occur, will open Jan. 1 and close Jan. 31. Eales said Atlanta United can receive official offers for Almiron, or any of the team’s players, before the window opens.