The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
MVP Martinez, club close to reaching new contract
Players put through strenuous start to camp by manager de Boer.
Atlanta United and Josef Martinez are on the verge of agreeing to a new contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The team declined to comment on Tuesday.
Mart i nez had three years remaining on the contract he signed after he was acquired from Torino in Italy in 2017, team president Darren Eales said in December. Martinez had a guaranteed compensation of $1.4 million last season, according to the MLS Players Association.
However, the striker set a league record for goals during the regular season (31) and an entire season (35) in helping Atlanta United win the MLS Cup last season.
Because of his scoring, the Venezuelan became the first player in league history to be named the MVP of the All-Star Game, the league and the MLS Cup in the same season.
Martinez is one of the most prolific strikers in league history with 50 goals in 54 appearances in the regular season. He also leads the league in career hat tricks (six).
However, his salary lags far behind the league’s highest-paid players: Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco ($7.1 million) and Michael Bradley ($6.5 million).
Though the subject of transfer rumors for more than a year, Martinez has consistently said how much he enjoys living in Atlanta and playing for Atlanta United and that he would only want to leave when the club no longer needed him.
Demanding start under de Boer: Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer wasn’t kidding on Monday when he said he takes training seriously.
The reigning MLS champs ended their first day of training camp under their new man-
ager on Tuesday by scrimmaging 11 vs. 11 for almost 30 minutes.
Some of the team’s veterans, Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst and Brek Shea, said they can’t remember ever doing that on a first day.
But they liked it.
“I think most guys would prefer to do that than to do something small and then line up the field and chase each other doing fitness with- out the ball,” Parkhurst said.
The day started with de Boer holding a team meeting at the training ground in Marietta during which he set expectations for the players.
“These are footballing men,” Larentowicz said. “They are professional. The goal is the same. We are looking forward to getting started.”
Parkhurst said de Boer didn’t set up a lot of rules so much as he discussed behaviors.
“Little things that are different from Tata (Gerardo Martino),” Parkhurst said. “He was pretty laid back with some of thosethings. Frank is going be more intuitive … to make sure guys are doing what they are supposed to be doing off the field.”
Every Atlanta United player, including the two draft picks and newest signing Dion Pereira, participated. Parkhurst (ankle) and Chris Goslin (unknown) didn’t participate in the session-ending scrimmage. Parkhurst said he will be ready to do so tomorrow.
De Boer was mostly quiet d ur ing the scrimma ge because the goal is more about improving fitness.
“He’s going to push us,” Shea said. “He knows the team was good last year. He will try to continue with a different approach.”