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Atlanta United: Assessing the major 2019 signings

By Chris Smith

KENNESAW, GA JULY 07: Atlanta's Emerson Hyndman (16) and Justin Meram (14) celebrate with Gonzalo "Pity" Martínez (10) after he scored a goal during the US Open Cup match between Saint Louis FC and Atlanta United FC on July 10th, 2019 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KENNESAW, GA JULY 07: Atlanta's Emerson Hyndman (16) and Justin Meram (14) celebrate with Gonzalo "Pity" Martínez (10) after he scored a goal during the US Open Cup match between Saint Louis FC and Atlanta United FC on July 10th, 2019 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Atlanta United, U.S. Open Cup
KENNESAW, GA JULY 07: Atlanta’s Emerson Hyndman (16) and Justin Meram (14) celebrate with Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez (10) after he scored a goal during the US Open Cup match between Saint Louis FC and Atlanta United FC on July 10th, 2019 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Atlanta United have enjoyed yet another productive season in 2019. But how did their new signings fare? Here, we assess the campaigns for the seven new major arrivals.

It’s been another special season for Atlanta United in 2019. The Five Stripes have built on their 2018 MLS Cup win, securing the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup and are set for another run in the playoffs this fall.

Josef Martinez has once again blown everyone away with his ruthless goalscoring and sheer desire to win, Miles Robinson has been a brilliantly unexpected success story in defense and Darlington Nagbe proved his worth as one of the most press-resistant midfielders in MLS.

light. Related Story. FC Cincinnati Vs Atlanta United: 3 things we learned

But what about the players Atlanta signed before and during the 2019 season? How have they fared so far and what have they added to Frank de Boer’s side, if anything? We’ve taken a look at each of Atlanta’s seven major signings in 2019 to see if they’ve hit the mark or missed the spot.

Atlanta United
ATLANTA, GA AUGUST 27: Atlanta’s Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez (10) celebrates after winning the US Open Cup final match between Minnesota United FC and Atlanta United FC on August 27th, 2019 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. Gonzalo Martinez

Signed from: River Plate

Fee: $14m

We might as well kick this off with the biggest of them all. Gonzalo Martinez arrived as a Copa Libertadores winner and South American Player of the Year, for an MLS-record $14m fee, charged with filling the gaping hole left in Atlanta by Miguel Almiron.

Without a single goal or assist in his first 13 Atlanta games across all competitions, it’s safe to say his formative months in MLS were a complete disaster.

However, despite a huge dip in confidence and public disputes with De Boer, Pity hung in there, and by the end of July, was finally putting up the sorts of numbers we all expected at the start.

Although he still has a tendency to frustrate at times, Martinez has struck up a great partnership with Josef Martinez, which was most recently displayed with Atlanta’s brilliant breakaway goal against FC Cincinnati, and he bagged a goal in the U.S. Open Cup final against Minnesota United.

As far as telling contributions go, they don’t get much bigger than that. And you can only see him getting better from here.

Verdict: Hit

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