With star midfielder Miguel Almiron heavily linked with a move to Europe after this season, Atlanta United have reportedly lined up a replacement: River Plate's Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez.
If ATL are able to sign Martinez, defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez thinks that would be 'ideal' for the club.
“If Miguel goes to Arsenal, the ideal replacement would be Pity,” Gonzalez Pirez told Futbol Continental, as translated by Dirty South Soccer. “We’re delighted that players like him are interested in coming, I hope it becomes a reality."
Almiron's influence on Tata Martino's team wouldn't be easily replicated. The the Paraguayan has 12 goals and 14 assists in 32 games this season, all starts, though he is likely to miss Atlanta's final two regular season games due to a hamstring injury picked up in their win over the New England Revolution on Oct. 6.
“Pity is a great player. He has characteristics that are similar to Miguel Almiron’s characteristics," Gonzalez Pirez said. "He wouldn’t have any problem adapting in Atlanta United.”
Martinez, 25, has been at River Plate since 2015 and has been capped by the Argentinian national team twice. He's twice won the Copa Argentina, twice Recopa Sudamericana and once Copa Libertadores since joining River Plate.