Ezequiel Barco committed an act of indiscipline, which is why he was left out of the 18 for Saturday’s 3-1 win against D.C. United, according to Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino.
Martino wouldn’t say what Barco did, but that it wasn’t related to on-field performance.
Barco will not play against Montreal on July 28. Martino said he’s not sure when Barco will next play. They want to see how he responds to the discipline.
Barco is supposed to be a member of the MLS All-Star team that will host Juventus on Aug. 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Barco’s absence snapped his string of 15 consecutive starts.
Barco, the most expensive transfer in MLS history when the Five Stripes paid a reported $15 million for his rights from Independiente, has four goals and one assist in 16 appearances this season.
Though Barco has just one goal and one assist in the past nine games, Martino on Thursday said he thought that Barco 19, was the best player on the field in last week's 1-1 draw with Seattle. Martino didn't hint that Barco might not play Saturday. Barco did train with Atlanta United during the days before the game against D.C. United. The team didn't say why Barco wasn't in the 18 for Saturday's game.
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