Atlanta United still have not officially announced the transfer of Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez from River Plate, despite everyone else on the planet acting as if the deal has already been concluded. However, that hasn’t stopped Five Stripes defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez from gushing over the type of player the club is bringing in this winter.

Speaking in a television interview with FOX Sports Argentina, the former River Plate man was nothing but complimentary of his former and soon-to-be-again teammate, saying that Pity will make Atlanta United very happy because he’s such an influential player on the field.

"EL PITY NOS VA A DAR MUCHAS ALEGRÍAS"#FOXSportsVerano | González Pirez elogió a su nuevo compañero en el Atlanta United, Gonzalo Martínez. pic.twitter.com/8EL1f39pFC — FOX Sports Argentina (@FOXSportsArg) January 8, 2019

“We’re now in contact with El Pity, trying to help him as much as we can and in anything he needs, so that his adaptation process is as brief as possible and as beneficial to us as possible. We think he’s going to make us very happy because we know that he’s such an influential player. It’s a physical league that gives you a lot of space to play because there isn’t much midfield transition, so the games are direct and Pity should have more space to operate.” — Leandro Gonzalez Pirez; Source: FOX Sports Argentina (Credit to Felipe Cardenas for helping with translation)

Atlanta United’s preseason begins on Monday, it is not known yet if the deal will be completed by then or if Martinez will join the squad for it.