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AUG 22, 2015 | Salt Lake City
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Christopher Kamrani--
By CHRISTOPHER KAMRANI |
The Salt Lake Tribune
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Sandy • Real Salt Lake's newest Designated Player stepped onto the escalator in Terminal 2 inside Salt Lake International Airport on Friday morning and descended toward a group of awaiting fans. There he was presented with scarves, posed for photos and autographed anything handed his way.
Less than 36 hours later, Juan Manuel Martinez was included in RSL's 18-man matchday roster against the Seattle Sounders by coach Jeff Cassar as the "El Burrito" era kicked off Saturday night.
The 29-year-old Argentine striker who was most recently at Boca Juniors — one of South America's premier clubs — signed with RSL on Aug. 13, and is expected to become a vital part of RSL's attack.
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Nine days after the two sides agreed to terms, Martinez received his visa and International Transfer Certificate Thursday and boarded a flight out of Buenos Aires toward Salt Lake City. During his two years at Boca Juniors, Martinez made 58 first-team appearances and scored 10 goals.
"We're looking forward to getting him on the team, getting him integrated, getting him feeling comfortable, and hopefully he can bring an impact right away," RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said Friday.
Fellow Argentinean Javier Morales is on it. The pair arrived at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday together as Morales served as a tour guide to the club's newest and important piece.
"Always it's easy when you know somebody from your country and they can understand what you're feeling or what you need," Morales said. "I think it's going to be easier for him."
Schuler's season likely done
Chris Schuler's promising MLS career continues to be snake-bitten. The 27-year-old center back, in his sixth season at RSL, is likely out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot.
After missing 16 games due to meniscus surgery, Schuler returned to play at Colorado on July 11 and at home against Los Angeles in the U.S. Open Cup on July 14. Over the next two days, Schuler's left foot started bothering him, RSL head athletic trainer Tyson Pace said.
The initial MRI showed a bone bruise, but a third follow-up MRI showed a stress fracture in the navicular bone, located on the inner side of the foot above the arch.
Pace said a fracture takes anywhere from 9-to-12 weeks to fully heal.
"There's a lot of factors that are against us in getting him back this season," Pace said. "It is what it is. We plan to prepare him for the soonest he can get back, which is maybe preseason next year."
Schuler played in six matches across all competitions this season.
Plata returns to starting XI
Joao Plata has recovered from the hamstring strain that kept him out of the U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Sporting Kansas City and last Saturday's home loss to Portland. The 23-year-old striker returned to the RSL starting lineup Saturday, hoping to build upon scoring in four consecutive matches.
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