Atlanta United: Pity Martinez must prove it first

Kaku has named Pity Martinez as the greatest player in the CONCACAF region. But the Atlanta United midfielder needs to prove it first.

When Atlanta United signed Gonzalo Martinez a little over a year ago, there was obvious and enormous excitement for what the Argentine could bring to the Five Stripes and Major League Soccer. You could have made a very strong argument that he was the biggest coup in league history: a high-level player arriving in MLS in the midst of their prime.

Since that time, ‘Pity’ Martinez has underwhelmed slightly. The 2018 South American Player of the Year had huge expectations to live up to, so anything other than a sensational first season in Georgia would have been seen as a disappointment, but given his stature and perceived quality, there were growing doubts over his commitment and application throughout his first year in MLS.

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It also did not help that Martinez was in Atlanta to replace Miguel Almiron. The two are different players, it should be said, but their overall impact on matches is comparable: conduct play from midfield, create chances, and score goals. Almiron did all of that and more as he established himself as Atlanta United’s best player, even with Josef Martinez winning league MVP. Martinez had big shoes to fill.

Despite his early struggles, though, his talent is still outrageous. Individual performances here and there have illustrated just how special he can be, and his 2018 campaign with River Plate cannot be overlooked. Inspiring his team to the Copa Libertadores is something that very few footballers around the world are capable, no less players that then come to MLS.

And no for New York Red Bulls’ creative midfielder Kaku, who knows a thing or two about the qualities required to play in that all-encompassing attacking midfield role, Pity is still the greatest player in the CONCACAF, despite a down 2019.

When asked who the best player in MLS, Liga MX and the Argentine SuperLiga is by ESPN Deportes’ Herculez Gomez and Mauricio Pedroza, Kaku gave a straight answer:

"“Pity Martinez. For what he has shown here [in MLS] and in Argentina and even in that CONCACAF game against Club America. I’ll stick with him.”"

Given Martinez’s talent and calibre, it is easy to see why Kaku thinks this. He is not just a normal player coming to MLS because the league is a nice retirement place. He came in his prime, at the peak of his powers, and likely has aspirations of moving to Europe, a transfer that he is capable of achieving. But he needs to prove his superiority first.

In fact, at present, Martinez is not even the best player in his own team, nevermind MLS, Liga MX and entire CONCACAF region. He is not even the best Martinez! That honour belongs to Josef, while the likes of Carlos Vela, Alejandro Pozuelo and Nicolas Lodeiro among others have all outperformed Pity in MLS terms. And that is without mentioning any Liga MX or SuperLiga stars.

Martinez, then, has the talent to live up to Kaku’s claim. That is why there is still reason for Atlanta United to believe and invest in his future. But he needs to prove it first because his first season in MLS was nothing but underwhelming.