Update, Jan. 25: FOX Sports Chile and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Doug Roberson reported that a deal had been reached for Atlanta United to transfer Carlos Carmona to Colo-Colo.
MARIETTA, Ga. -- As any soccer fan around the world knows, some transfer rumors are completely fabricated, and others are legit. In the case of Atlanta United midfielder Carlos Carmona, recent reports tying him to a move to Chilean powerhouse Colo-Colo have some truth, according to the player.
“They’re true,” said Carmona through a translator to reporters on Thursday. “I know Colo-Colo would like to have me there. I know that the clubs are talking, but I don’t know any more.”
Carmona added: “I’m happy here, but Colo-Colo’s one of the biggest clubs in Chile. I would just have to weigh everything.”
One reason he would consider the move is that his family, including his wife, currently live in South America. And he revealed another important piece of news that likely makes the pull southward even stronger: “My wife is pregnant,” he told the assembled media members.
Carmona, who started 30 matches in MLS regular season play last season, mainly as a defensive midfielder alongside Jeff Larentowicz, remains under contract with Atlanta through 2018. Technical director Carlos Bocanegra made a point of clarifying this earlier this week to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
“You hear rumors all the time but Carlos is here, he’s under contract with us, he’s our player,” said Bocanegra. “He’s not going anywhere.”
When asked about Bocanegra’s clear statement of intent, Carmona said he’s “happy with that.”
“I’m happy that the club wants me, and that a club values me like that, “ he said. “But being a soccer player, you never know what’s going to happen the next day. You just have to think about it like that.”
After addressing the rumors about his future, Carmona turned to the present. He’s optimistic about the upcoming season and says the team hopes to achieve more than last year when Columbus Crew SC knocked the Five Stripes out of the playoffs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He’s also looking forward to playing with Atlanta’s newest signings, including Ezequiel Barco, Franco Escobar, and Darlington Nagbe.
“We’re excited to have these new players with us,” he said. “Even with the loss of Yamil [Asad], who’s a big absence for us, I think we’ve added some really talented and really important players from South America. I think we’re even better than last year.
Defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez expressed his opinion on whether Carmona should return to Chile.
“[Carlos is] a very important player for us on defense,” Pirez told reporters. “He’s a great man. We’d feel his absence. I wish the best for him, but for me, I want him to stay here.”
