In the most positive sign yet that Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez will be ready to play when the 2021 MLS season begins, the Venezuelan posted this message to followers of his various social media handles on Friday;
Volviendo a vivir sensaciones que estuvieron detenidas durante casi un año muy duro. La cancha, la pelota y, sobre todo: sentirme futbolista otra vez. Es la felicidad. 2021 comienza bien; todo está cada vez más cerca. Pronto nos veremos de vuelta 🙏🏻😡⚽️ @atlutd @secasports pic.twitter.com/lQixlEfzYS
— Josef Martinez (@JosefMartinez17) January 16, 2021
Translated, it reads: Reliving sensations that were detained for almost a very hard year. The field, the ball and, above all: feeling like a footballer again. It is happiness. 2021 starts well; everything is getting closer. Soon we will see you again
Martinez suffered a season-ending knee injury in last season’s first game at Nashville on February 29. He underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL three weeks later. Without him, the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons and saw manager Frank de Boer leave to be replaced a few months later by Gabriel Heinze.
Also on Friday, Ives Galarcep reported that Atlanta United is closing in on signing Machop Chol, formerly of its Academy who then matriculated to Wake Forest, to a Homegrown deal. Chol is a winger who was a member of the club’s inaugural academy.
