Martino: I’m still under contract with Atlanta United

March 11, 2018 Atlanta: Atlanta United head coach Gerardo Martino during the match against D.C. United 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 head coach Gerardo Martino during the match against D.C. United on Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino  said Friday that he had no comment on more reports, as well as MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s verification, about him agreeing to a contract to become Mexico’s next manager.

“I have nothing new to say about that,” he said. “I did see what Don Garber said yesterday. I’m still contractually linked to Atlanta United.”

Led by Martino, who was named the MLS Coach of the Year on Wednesday, Atlanta United will play the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals of the playoffs. Atlanta United will host the Red Bulls on Nov. 25. The second leg will be in Harrison, N.J. on Nov. 29.

Reports and rumors about Mexico's interest in Martino have circulated for months and seemed to settle when Atlanta United announced in late October that he had declined to exercise the option on his contract and would leave the club at season's end.

Things became muddled last week with reports that Mexico was interviewing more candidates for the job, recently held by Juan Carlos Osorio until he resigned after the World Cup in Russia.

Speaking Thursday at a soccer symposium in Miami, Garber said of Mexico: "They made a very aggressive move to get Tata who, by the way, before he came to MLS might not have been on the radar screen for the Mexican national team."