Official: Mauricio Martínez joins Sarmiento, Unión miss out | OneFootball

Club Atlético Sarmiento has officially announced the signing of Mauricio “Caramelo” Martínez for the 2026 season. The experienced central midfielder, 32 years old, joins the “Verde” on a free transfer after parting ways with Rosario Central and has signed a one-year contract with the club.

This news puts an end to all speculation about his possible return to Unión de Santa Fe, the club where he was developed. Despite mutual interest and efforts by the “Tatengue” management to bring back a player beloved by the fans, negotiations did not succeed.

The reasons behind the “no” to Santa Fe

Unión actively sought Martínez’s return, especially given their need to strengthen the midfield. However, negotiations became complicated. The player, who still had a contract with Central, first needed to agree on his departure, which involved procedures and timelines that Unión’s management could not handle in their favor, mainly due to financial issues that prevented them from making a purchase or taking on a high cost for his return.

Ultimately, after gaining his freedom, Martínez weighed his options and found that Sarmiento’s project aligned better with his interests, closing the door on a third spell with the “Tatengue.”

He will bring experience to Junín

With this signing, the Junín team adds a player of quality and experience, who has played for Racing Club and Liga de Quito, where he won the Copa Sudamericana in 2023. His versatility to play both in midfield and as a central defender gives Facundo Sava an important piece for building the team ahead of the Copa de la Liga Profesional.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.