STATUS TRACKER TRANSFER: Report
The MLS community was abuzz Thursday night after a report from Cincinnati Soccer Talk that FC Cincinnati is nearing a deal for Atlanta United star Pity Martinez, although it is unclear whether the Argentine will play for the Queen’s City in barrier movement.
At the same time, there were separate reports from The Post Cincy and others locally and in Brazil that FC Cincinnati would get 21 – year – old Brazilian striker Brenner from Sao Paulo, just to keep up the excitement.
BREAKING: We have also confirmed with several league sources tonight that FC Cincinnati is also in the process of acquiring Atlanta United midfielder Pity Martinez.https: //t.co/tcjAK9F3Ow
– Soccer Cincy Conversation (@cincysoccertalk) February 5, 2021
FC Cincinnati had to trade for the No. 1 spot in the MLS Distribution Process, which is currently being extended by Austin FC’s expansion side, to sign Pity after it was sold by Atlanta to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC in the past. September for a reported $ 18 million. FC Cincinnati is No. 14 in the order of satisfaction.
The frenzy took another sharp turn on Friday, as Martinez caught a wind of social media chatter and posted an Instagram story that slightly disturbed the original report. While playing for Al-Nassr, the 27-year-old has scored four goals and four assists in 21 matches.
This was brought to my attention from Pity Martinez’s Instagram.
Translation to distilling: Al Nassr has my family and I are satisfied. Don’t believe what the social networks say. If I decide to leave, you will hear from me. pic.twitter.com/zDKykXfFOV
– Pat Brennan (@PBrennanENQ) February 5, 2021
Martinez came to Atlanta ahead of the 2019 season, arriving as a named player from River Plate. With Martinez winning the 2018 South American Football of the Year and the Five Stripes coming off the MLS Cup title that same year, expectations were high in the air. He was introduced as a substitute for Miguel Almiron after the Paraguayan attacking midfielder sold alongside Premier League side Newcastle United for a reported $ 27 million.
But there were mixed results, as Pity never seemed like the then manager Frank de Boer. He finished his 39-game MLS stay with seven goals and 11 assists, helping Atlanta to win the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup in 2019, despite struggling to produce a consistent victory, leading to a revolution in the middle of the 2020 Atlanta recession.
Despite his stops and starts with Atlanta, there is no doubt that Pity would inject much – needed quality into FC Cincinnati in the third final. They scored from 12 league low goals during the 2020 season and have completed the Eastern Conference stand in their first two MLS campaigns since joining as an expansion team. FC Cincinnati has averaged just over 0.75 goals per game in MLS.
The bigger picture is there too, with FC Cincinnati slated to open their West End Stadium in 2021; they were previously at the Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati, where they spent their USL days. Similarly, DC United made a big splash in 2018 when it opened Audi Field, signing English star Wayne Rooney as a statement of intent.
If Pity FC arrived in Cincinnati, he would need a good throw from the club. Their top three DPs are currently in midfielder Allan Cruz and forward Yuya Kubo and Jurgen Locadia, so it would seem that some roster adjustment would be needed.