Columbus Crew SC traded away their starting striker last week, and this week they've made an addition to their attacking corps, acquiring Cristian Martinez on loan from Panamanian side Chorrillo FC. The 19-year-old will occupy an international roster slot on Columbus' roster.
“Cristian is a young, talented player with a bright future, and we're pleased that we were able to complete this deal after having him in training with us over the course of the last few weeks,” said sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter. “We're excited to work with him and do our best to help him realize his potential as a professional.”
Martinez joins Crew SC from his hometown Chorrillo FC. He started his soccer career playing for Chorrillo's Under-9 squad and progressed through the club's youth system to make his debut appearance for its first team four years ago, at the age of 15. He joined Crew SC as a guest player for the Black & Gold's international friendly against Liga MX side Veracruz on May 11, where he played 45 minutes and registered one shot.
He has earned two caps for the Panama National Team, both in 2016 during friendly matches. His first appearance for the side came in a substitute appearance against El Salvador (February 18), where he helped Panama close-out a 1-0 victory. His second cap also represented his first start for Los Canaleros, against Nicaragua (March 16).
