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" with his transfer in hand after parting ways with Rosario Central and has signed a one-year contract with the institution.

The news puts an end to the speculations about his possible return to Unión de Santa Fe, the club where he was trained. Despite mutual interest and the efforts of the Tatengue management to bring back a player beloved by the fans, the negotiations did not succeed.

The reasons for saying "no" to Santa Fe

Unión actively sought Martínez's return, especially due to the need to strengthen the midfield. However, the negotiations became complicated. The player, who had an active 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 economic issues that prevented them from making a purchase or assuming a high cost for his return.

Finally, upon gaining his freedom of action, Martínez evaluated his options, and Sarmiento's project aligned better with his interests, closing the door on a third cycle with the "Tatengue".

He will bring experience to Junín

With this transfer, the Junín team adds a player of hierarchy and experience, with stints at Racing Club and Liga de Quito, where he won the Copa Sudamericana in 2023. His versatility to play both in the midfield and central defense provides Facundo Sava with an important piece for assembling 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.