Members of Atlanta United’s front office declined to comment on a report published Thursday that the team may be attempting to sell or trade centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, midfielder Julian Gressel and striker Hector Villalba.
The three players were key pieces of the 2018 team that won the MLS Cup. The report was published in The Athletic.
Potentially moving Gressel is the most curious of the items in the report.
Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said last month that the team was attempting to re-sign Gressel, who has one year remaining on his contract and who the team considers a valuable player. In three seasons, Gressel, 26, has 15 goals and 35 assists. His ability to play any of at least six positions, as well as his holding of a green card, makes him very valuable in MLS. His guaranteed salary in 2019 was approximately $130,000.
Bocanegra said in November that the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations between the league and the MLS Players Association were affecting negotiations because the team wasn’t sure what the financial rules will be once an agreement is finalized.
However, the team later traded for Brooks Lennon, gave him a new contract, and completed the purchase of midfielder Emerson Hyndman while giving him a salary of at least $800,000, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Hyndman had guaranteed compensation of $360,000 while on loan from Bournemouth during the 2019 season.
The team could be shopping Gressel around the league in an attempt to leverage its position in attempts to negotiate a new deal with the player. Vancouver reportedly was interested in Gressel near the end of the season.
Gressel is one of the team’s supporters’ favorite players because of his work on social media and in the community.
Possibly selling Gonzalez Pirez is also interesting. Club Tijuana reportedly is interested in signing him.
Gonzalez Pirez, 27, twice finished in the top five in MLS Defender of the Year voting in 2017 and 2018. He has guaranteed compensation of approximately $810,000 last season.
Should the team sell Gonzalez Pirez, it is currently very thin at centerback, with just three players for that position currently signed.
Villalba, 25, didn’t make as big an impact in 2019 because of injuries as he did in 2017 and 2018 when he totaled 20 goals and 20 assists. He had just one goal and four assists in 20 appearances in 2019.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
