Report: Josue Martinez Will Join The Union After Playing His Last Game With Saprissa
by Scott Kessler on Dec 5, 2011 11:17 AM EST
in Offseason Content
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PrintDeportivo Saprissa is set to allow Josue Martinez to move to the Philadelphia Union, according to La Republica.
A throwaway line in the website's game recap of Saprissa's 2-2 draw with Alajuelense included a comment about Martinez's future with Saprissa, saying that the 21-year-old had played his last game with the Costa Rican power. The 21-year-old striker missed two opportunities in the first half, but scored in the 50th minute of the game to give Saprissa hope. Saprissa could not find the extra goal necessary to win the game, however.
The Brotherly Game speculated, after talking to knowledgeable sources on Central American soccer, that Martinez would most likely stay with Saprissa if the team progressed onward in Costa Rica's playoffs. However, the 2-2 draw with Alajuelense eliminated Saprissa from the competition, leaving them with the option of offloading their young talent to foreign sides. Martinez is one of the team's three young strikers that are linked to either MLS or Europe, despite Joel Campbell's sale to Arsenal last year, showing Saprissa's ability to foster talent at forward positions.
Martinez has been linked to the Union multiple times in the past week, with Sunday being a possible time for his sale to Philadelphia. The Union reportedly offered $1 million for the player in July, but had their offer rejected, with the price supposedly at $2 million for Martinez at the time. Now the forward's price has fallen to around $500,000, making him a perfect candidate to become the Union's first ever Young Designated player signing.
"There would be no restriction on him (Joshua) or anyone else who has a chance, for us the priority is to retain the best talent and build equipment, but we can not deny life-changing opportunities to boys who are with us," said Saprissa President Juan Carlos Rojas.
Prior to Sunday's draw, Rojas had tried to fight off rumors of Martinez's departure, but admitted that an MLS team had plenty of interest in the young striker.
"The interest exists and we can not deny that there have been talks, but hey, now we are focused on Sunday's game. On this issue the truth is that at this moment we can not confirm anything, when one is speaking with teams, whether to communicate something is done in a coordinated way and now there is nothing to announce, "said Rojas.
The Union have been looking for new talent up front, according to reports from across the globe, due to the team's inability to consistently find goals. Last season, the Union scored 44 goals, leaving them tied for 7th in MLS, but six of those goals came in a 6-2 win against Toronto FC, and four came in a 4-4 draw against the New England Revolution.
The Costa Rican forward has represented Saprissa 65 times during his short first team career with the club, scoring 18 times. He has also played for Costa Rica's national team on numerous levels of competition, scoring seven times overall between the country's youth and senior squads.
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Great get if this goes through. MLS as a whole needs to focus on bringing in young talent rather than older, bigger names. Obviously there is lot bigger risk that a younger player flames out, and it isn’t as sexy as bringing in the Henry’s of the world, but the more young, high potential players in this league, the more likely it is that some blossom into stars. Let’s hope Martinez is one.
Lots of good young striker talent on this team now with Mwanga, Jack Mac, and now Martinez. Hope they can develop them all.
One will most likely be gone in the next couple of years.
That’s a lot of money to put into the forward core of the team.
Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank
by Scott Kessler on Dec 5, 2011 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
baked with goodness, packed with love?
Last year we couldn’t get this done…. this year price goes down and it seems that it is progressing quickly…. does anyone think that Bimbo could have helped facilitate this move? In all seriousness, having a sponsor that also sponsors the biggest club in
Costa Rica, and the 2 or 3 biggest clubs in Mexico has to help open doors. Corporate interests have a way of doing that!
glad to see this has a good chance of happening, now i just want to see them bring in a LB and some defensive depth and ill be happy with the offseason.
left back plz
agreed, Rhayes. Go grab a NATURAL left back so Gabe can be freed up for the utility sub role.
Or even as the starting LM.
Two Farfans in the midfield would be incredibly fun to watch.
Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank
by Scott Kessler on Dec 6, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If Six Flags has taught me anything...
More Farfans, More FUN!!!
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