Atlanta United midfielder Julian Gressel trained with his Atlanta United teammates during 11-on-11 scrimmages during Tuesday’s training session at its grounds in Marietta.
Gressel wants a new contract from Atlanta United. He received guaranteed compensation of $133,000 last season on a contract signed when he was a rookie. Gressel, 26, has scored 15 goals with 35 assists in MLS regular season games the past three seasons.
Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer explained Gressel's non-participation for part of Monday as a conditioning precaution, implying that Gressel would be with the team soon. De Boer cited Franco Escobar's participation in two scrimmages as part of the evidence that Gressel would soon be needed. De Boer described Gressel as very important.
Club vice president Carlos Bocanegra said in late November they hoped to sign the versatile player to a longer contract. Bocanegra also said that the ongoing CBA negotiations were making it difficult to know how much money the team would have to spend on players. It has since traded for Brooks Lennon, and acquired Emerson Hyndman, Anton Walkes and Fernando Meza. The team declined to release any financial details of those signings.
When asked last week if there was an update to Gressel’s contract situation, Bocanegra said the club was having internal discussions.
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