Peralta Gone, Martinez Going

D.C. United has parted ways with Argentine defender Gonzalo Peralta, according to media reports out of his home country and confirmed by lead MLS story-breaker Steven Goff of the Washington Post. The club declined an option on his contract, hoping they would be able to re-sign Peralta at a lower salary (he made $199,000 last year), but the player has opted instead to join up with Unión de Santa Fe, a team that was recently relegated into Argentina’s second division.

Peralta, 28, joined MLS in January and went on to make 18 appearances (17 starts) for United last season, with his lone goal coming in United’s 3-2 victory over Toronto FC in late May. He couldn’t avoid the injury bug that seemed to plague the team in 2008, as sports hernia surgery sidelined Peralta for a chunk of the summer. Still, he managed to log 1,514 minutes in the club’s backline and also made seven appearances in other competitions.

The same take-a-pay-cut-or-leave offer has reportedly been extended to fellow South American defender Gonzalo Martinez, as United looks to clear cap space ahead of the regular season kick-off. The 33-year-old Colombian made $244,750 last season, fourth-highest on the team, behind only Marcelo Gallardo, Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno.

Of D.C. United’s five big South American acquisitions in the last off-season (Peralta, Martinez, Gallardo, Franco Neill, and Jose Carvallo), three are no longer with the team, with Martinez apparently on the outs and Gallardo under pressure to perform after a disappointing debut season in America.

* photo courtesy ISI Photos