When word got out that D.C. United was close to making a deal for midfielder Felipe Martins, the groans were audible. After all, this was a guy who fouled D.C. United’s most creative player (Fabian Espindola) during a 2014 game in its opening moments, shelving him for 6 weeks. Espindola also served a suspension for a retaliation foul on Martins. Martins then followed Jesse Marsch to the New York Red Bulls, and then he went to the Vancouver Whitecaps before returning East.
To his credit, Martins was aware of the reception he would get here, but understood his job was to be the player you hated to see on the other side of the field first, before his charm would settle in in one manner or another.