“YOU ARE THE WORSE COACH I EVER MET” Star player disparaging Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda.
Major League Soccer differs greatly from other leagues across the globe for a variety of reasons. Among them are forced media appearances, playing on turf, mid-season trades, and league administration initiatives. The last thing 22-year-old midfielder Franco Ibarra expected was to be sent on a midseason loan from a rival team where he has made a significant impact.
Ibarra is still adjusting to his new situation two days after Atlanta United told him he would be loaned to Toronto FC in order for ATL to meet the requirements of MLS’s Under-22 initiative, which gives teams salary cap flexibility but restricts teams to just three players.
Ibarra said, “I’m trying to accept all of this,” to The Athletic. “I have a gazillion questions.” But thinking about this further is pointless. That will exacerbate my situation. If you think highly of me, please assign me to a stronger team. Send me to the best team, please. I know this is a business, but please assign me to a different team.
Despite having a significant role for head coach Gonzalo Pineda, Ibarra was the player forced to make way due to Atlanta’s mishandling of the roster. After Colombian winger Edwin Mosquera returned from his loan at Defensa y Justicia in Argentina, Atlanta United signed Erik López, Ibarra, Santiago Sosa, and Mosquera as U-22 initiative players, surpassing the allowance.
Ibarra received the news on Wednesday night from Carlos Bocanegra, the sporting director of Atlanta and a former captain of the USMNT. Ibarra was not going to accept it.
Ibarra stated, “Carlos told me that I had to leave because he was going to close the deal that same night.” Carlos didn’t have to seal the deal, I informed him. that I had no intention of leaving Atlanta. I’m not joining that squad.
“I was unaware of the deadline for my departure to Toronto, my new home, and the requirements related to my visa. I had no idea what was going on. I acknowledged to Carlos that I was aware of the rules. I understand, but I’m not visiting Toronto.
On Thursday morning, Ibarra showed up at Atlanta’s training facility for his typical workday. He was told to go home and was not permitted to participate.
“I was told that since I was already a Toronto player, there was no need for me to change. Ibarra told The Athletic that Atlanta had finalized the agreement. Carlos expressed his sincere apologies to me. He declared that the roster needed to be reduced. I reaffirmed my decision not to travel to Toronto. I don’t get any advantage from it in terms of football. It’s clear where Toronto stands in relation to Atlanta right now.
Even though it is difficult for Toronto FC supporters to accept that a new player is unhappy about joining the team, it is understandable why the 22-year-old has such feelings. With just three victories from 22 games this season, the Reds have been a complete disaster even with the largest payroll in Major League Soccer and two of the biggest names in the history of the league. Ibarra might come to appreciate the club.
Regarding his chat with Bocanegra, Ibarra said, “I’m hurt and it bothers me how you’ve done this and where you’re sending me.” “You can’t just pick up the phone and tell me I have to relocate to another country. That would be different if you had informed me a week ago that there was an issue and that I no longer had a U-22 slot. However, last night I learned that (Bocanegra) had to bench one of the four U-22 players.
Ibarra spoke with Toronto FC general manager Jason Hernandez, who sympathized with the player’s circumstances, according to Felipe Cárdenas of The Athletic. After his loan from TFC expired, Ibarra was informed that Atlanta would put in a lot of effort to increase his chances of being transferred to Europe.
“Are you serious, really? Ibarra remarked, “I still don’t know when I have to be in Toronto,” regarding his discussion with Bocanegra. These are issues that need to be discussed. Does it benefit me? Is this a mistake on my part? However, when I turned up to train, they refused to let me. I had to go back home and turn around. I have to leave legally. I’ve got to get over there. I currently play for Toronto FC. I couldn’t even try to back out of the agreement by claiming I didn’t want to travel to Toronto. The agreement had already been finalized. Their method of doing this disturbed me.
Ibarra wished his supporters in Atlanta farewell on Friday, sharing on Instagram that he was experiencing “pain and sadness” and that he had “insisted on staying in Atlanta.”
