Atlanta United’s Margin Call

If you’re an Atlanta United fan who is blissfully unaware about the state of the team over the offseason, and have returned from hibernation to the news of Josef Martinez’s trade buyout(!), you might be wondering “what the hell is going on over there? I mean, I know he hasn’t been the same since his injury, but cmon.”

While many will empathize with the feeling that it’s all a bit pitiful the way Josef’s move came about, the truth is that 1) it was a step in the right direction for a club looking to build medium/long-term success, and 2) moving Josef became necessary not only due to his own contract, but the acquisition of several other players that clogged the pipeline. Let’s break down that…