TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Transfer
After weeks of speculation surrounding a return home, Atlanta United on Tuesday finalized the transfer of midfielder Carlos Carmona to Colo-Colo in his native country of Chile for an undisclosed transfer fee.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson first reported the news on Thursday.
Carmona, 30, had been connected to Colo-Colo earlier this offseason, but seemed destined to remain with the Five Stripes after Bocanegra told reporters on Jan. 22 that he’d be staying in Atlanta.
That stance changed later in the week, however, after Carmona informed the club about complications his wife, who lives in Chile, is experiencing with her pregnancy.
“Carlos was a valuable member of the team, but sometimes life becomes more important than soccer and we have decided to do what’s best for the player and his family,” vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a team statement. “Although, it was never the plan to move him on, we were able to reach an agreement and made the best out of a difficult situation.”
Acquired last winter from Italian club Atalanta, Carmona was a key part of Atlanta’s success in 2017. The defensive midfielder recorded two goals and two assists in 31 regular season games for the Five Stripes, doing plenty of dirty work to allow Miguel Almiron, Tito Villalba and Josef Martinez freedom to get forward.
His sale creates a hole for Atlanta at defensive midfield. Jeff Larentowicz is the only experienced player on the roster with experience at the position; teenage Homegrown player Chris Goslin is also comfortable in the spot.
