LAFC manager Marc dos Santos said political decisions and other things outside of the club's control play a role in transfer moves, including the team's sale of Venezuelan winger David Martinez to Danish club Midtjylland this month.
The 20-year-old was a top prospect in his third season with the Black and Gold, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 18 matches played, but he was moved on to another club known for development for a fee reported at $8.5 million in the Danish press. Martinez also contributed to LAFC's 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup run, earning the competition's Best Young Player award after scoring four goals to help the team to the semifinals.
While it wasn't a surprise to see Martinez move on, the timing raised a few eyebrows,
and Dos Santos said there was an off-field element to the transfer as well.
¡Inatajable!
— MLS Español (@MLSes) March 8, 2026
GOOOOLAZO de David Martínez 🇻🇪.
'La Joya' anota con la zurda su segundo gol de la temporada a favor de @LAFC.
Se abre el marcador en Los Ángeles. pic.twitter.com/A1pUoEdytu
"Things that sometimes politically happen in the world that none of us have control (over), you know? Like, wars in the world. Political decisions that happen," Dos Santos said at his pre-match news conference ahead of a Saturday, Sept. 5 match against Real Salt Lake. "David Martinez, young player that needs his family around him. He’s young here, alone ... but then what was going on with Venezuela and the United States blocks family to come in.
"That’s just an example of things we go through when we sign guys and try to see them grow. I’m happy for David that his family, his mom and brother could be with him in Denmark. That’s just one example, but there’s a lot of challenges that are out of our control sometimes."
Martinez joined LAFC on Feb. 7, 2024, his 18th birthday but found it difficult to adapt to life in Southern California far from his family. His parents moved three hours to be closer to him in Venezuela when he began playing with Monagas FC.
“My mom never left me alone, and I think it was really important for me to have my parents there supporting me because I know a lot of players would’ve wanted to have the support I had. I had that opportunity,” Martinez said of his time in Venezuela in a 2025 interview. After moving to LA, “we’re always in touch, doing video calls. In fact, before matches I’m almost always calling her, talking with her while I’m getting ready.”
Dos Santos said he couldn't imagine sending his 17-year-old daughter to a foreign country on her own and also reminded fans that players are often dealing with more than what is seen during a 90-minute match on the field.
"Players go through a lot of emotional things. They do three, four bad games, they’re on social media, they get hammered on social media, they’re home alone, their brains go," the coach said. "It wasn’t always easy for David, and I think inside of that he showed really good qualities, he showed fantastic moments with us and now we’re happy. I hope he grows a lot and does really well."
LAFC may miss Martinez on the field, too. The club currently is on a five match winless run in MLS play that threatens to see it fall out of the Supporters' Shield race. It heads to face Real Salt Lake hoping to get all three points.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LAFC manager says US-Venezuela relations a factor in David Martinez move
