Martinez finds new home in Miami

There was a time when Josef Martinez wanted to play the rest of his career in Atlanta. Now, he’s eager to make his mark in South Florida. Martinez, the 2018 Major League Soccer MVP and centerpiece of Atlanta United’s rise to prominence, was released by the club Wednesday so he could sign with Inter Miami. The moves weren’t unexpected, given Martinez’s struggles last season under United coach Gonzalo Pineda. The striker was told months ago that he wasn’t going to be part of Atlanta’s future. Still, it was jarring news for the city’s record-setting fan base, which had adopted the 29-year-old Venezuelan as one of its own. After three stellar seasons that included leading United to the MLS Cup championship in just its second year in the league, Martinez never regained his dynamic form following a severe knee injury in the 2020 league opener. Still, he left quite a legacy in Atlanta, becoming the face of the expansion franchise after joining from Italy’s Serie A before the inaugural season in 2017. He scored 98 goals in 134 MLS appearances, and 111 goals over 158 matches in all competitions.