Fresh off making its playoff debut last season, Inter Miami acquired star forward Josef Martínez.
Martínez is a former MLS MVP and MLS Cup Champion with Atlanta United. However, Atlanta exercised an offseason buyout of Josef Martínez following a fallout with the club despite a massive fan base.
Now, the Venezuelan joins an Inter Miami side hoping to build on the success of last season. Miami lost its top scorer in both 2021 and 2022, Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine retired after the 2022 campaign following a massively successful career in South America, Europe then North America. Martínez is a natural replacement for Higuain’s vacancy at the top of the formation.
Martínez is one of MLS’s best players over the last handful of years. In fact, since arriving in the United States in Atlanta United’s debut season the only season Martínez did not lead the club in scoring was the heavily shortened 2020 campaign. Moreover, he missed that season with a torn ACL. Still, his 103 goals in 144 MLS appearances is remarkable.
Martínez’s best moments with Atlanta go beyond just goals, though. He won the MLS Cup in 2018. That season, he won MLS MVP, picking up playoff MVP and MLS Cup Final MVP along the way. Then, in the next season, Atlanta United won the Campeones Cup and the US Open Cup. Martínez scored the winner in the Campeones Cup.
Inter Miami makes move for proven winner Josef Martínez
Inter Miami will hope Josef Martínez can be just close to as successful as he was with Atlanta. Also, the club hopes he can avoid some of the fireworks that led to his downfall with Atlanta. The injury in 2020 removed much of the explosiveness and flair Martínez exemplified.
Plus, Atlanta suspended Martínez for a week after a bust-up with head coach Gonzalo Pineda. He eventually returned, but Atlanta missed the playoffs.
He helped build the Atlanta United fandom with his success propelling the team. Inter Miami hopes Josef Martínez can have a similar impact on its side.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
