Atlanta United’s Martinez gets U.S. Green Card

March 11, 2018 Atlanta: Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez takes a shot at the goal against D.C. United in a MLS soccer match on Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Atlanta.    Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

March 11, 2018 Atlanta: Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez takes a shot at the goal against D.C. United in a MLS soccer match on Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez,  a native of Venezuela, has obtained a U.S. Green Card. As such, he will no longer occupy one of the seven international slots on the team’s roster.

Eric Remedi, an Argentine midfielder who is expected to join the team this week, will move into that slot.

The Green Card has been in the works for months, at least dating back to the training camp in Florida.

The team has previously worked with Hector Villalba (Argentina), Chris McCann (Ireland) and Kevin Kratz (Germany), among others, to obtain Green Cards.

The players occupying slots are: Miguel Almiron (Paraguay), Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (Argentina), Franco Escobar (Argentina), Ezequiel Barco (Argentina), Jon Gallagher (Ireland), Julian Gressel (Germany) and Remedi.

Unless traded, the team will get back one more slots on Dec. 31, 2018. It was was traded to LAFC last season.

-- MoreComplete Atlanta United coverage