Today the Windy City Club let it be known they have locked in both Cristian Martinez & Amando Moreno for the 2019 season and team options. Martinez has the 2 year option while Moreno is under a 3 year one. Fire Prez. & GM Nelson Rodriguez stated, "Though still young players, Cristian & Amando have valuable experience." Martinez now 21 was the 4th overall pick in this most recent MLS Waiver Draft, having spent the last 3 years with the Crew, getting 27 egular season games and one in the playoffs. Last year, Martinez had 14 games with a pair of assists.This goes with his 7 games for Panama, his first as they overcame El Salvador 1-0 on Feb 18, 2016. Fire HC, Veljko Paunovic added, " Amando and Cristian showed a lot of quality in their time with their former clubs." Moreno was the player to be named in the draft day deal where the Fire sent over their #32 pick overall to NYRB. He at just 23 already has 50 league games as a pro with him starting with NYRB in 2013 this along with 2 games with the USMNT U-20's in 2015 and a May of 2016 camp with the full NT speak to his ability.
Amando Moreno. Photo Credit Chicago Fire.
Cristian Martinez. Photo by Chicago Fire.