Sounders uncertain about Martinez
TUKWILA – Sounders FC has been left confused and frustrated over Mario Martinez’s situation after the midfielder was named to Honduras’ 23-man roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said earlier this month he had been assured by Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez that Martinez would not be used in the July tournament.
Furthermore, Martinez was not on Honduras’ 35-man provisionary roster for the Gold Cup, which the confederation described as a “binding” list from which the final roster would be determined.
“It’s a little bit of a limbo, confusion state right now,” Schmid said.
The confusion is exacerbated by the fact that Martinez’s loan with the Sounders is set to expire today – also the deadline for Seattle to exercise its option to buy the talented 23-year-old.
Martinez, after a short break back home in Honduras, had been expected back with the Sounders for a scrimmage Friday but wasn’t there. He posted on Twitter earlier in the morning that it was possible he’d be returning to Honduran club Real Espana, where he is under contract.
Sounders executives said throughout the week that negotiations were ongoing, but Martinez’s standing with the team has become increasingly uncertain.
Seattle has already been without the midfielder because of his national-team duty for parts of January, February, March and June. The Gold Cup runs July 7-28 and Martinez would also be expected to rejoin Honduras for World Cup qualifying in September, October and possibly November.
In other Gold Cup news, Sounders FC’s Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans were not named to the U.S. roster following their time with the team in World Cup qualifying.
It is possible they could be added by coach Jurgen Klinsmann during the knockout rounds of the tournament, which begin July 20.
Yedlin returns after U-20 World Cup
Defender DeAndre Yedlin was scheduled to return from the FIFA U-20 World Cup late Friday night. The 19-year-old started all three group-stage games for the U.S. team, which was eliminated earlier Friday after going 0-2-1 against Spain, France and Ghana.