Recently departed Atlanta United star Gonzalo "Pity" Martinez wasted no time making an impact for his new club, registering an assist from a set piece in his debut for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr FC.
Starting in Al-Nassr's Asian Champions League Group D match against Iranian side Sepahan, Martinez delivered an inch-perfect cross from a dead ball deep on the left side, setting up the opening goal and giving his side a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Martinez would go on the play 82 minutes as Al-Nassr won 2-0 to stay atop Group D at the halfway point of the group stage.
Martinez was one of the biggest names in MLS during his year-and-half in the league, arriving after claiming 2018 South American Player of the Year honors and with an eight-figure price tag. Though he did deliver the types of plays that got him off to such a hot start with his new club on Tuesday, he struggled to find consistency in his time with the Five Stripes as they attempted to adapt to the new style of then-head coach Frank de Boer, ultimately registering seven goals and 11 assists in 39 regular-season appearances (plus two more assists in a pair of playoff games).
De Boer and Martinez ended up being the two highest-profile departures in a summer of change for Atlanta. The club and coach mutually parted ways after a disappointing performance at the MLS is Back Tournament, about a month-and-a-half before they accepted a reported $18 million transfer bid for Martinez from Al-Nassr, allowing them to turn a slight profit on his playing rights. Atlanta executives have stated their intentions to bring in another Designated Player to replace Martinez in the current transfer window, with the club heavily linked to Lanus midfielder Marcelino Moreno.
