Martin Nunez “shocked” to be let go by Minnesota, has a point to prove in Edmonton By Steven Sandor Posted on February 23, 2013 1 0 760 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Martin Nunez played over 1,500 minutes in the Minnesota Stars midfield last season. He scored five times. He was a major part of a team that went to the final in 2012. He scored in the 2012 final against Tampa Bay. So, he was stunned to find out that the Stars didn’t want him back for the 2013 season. Nunez has joined Neil Hlavaty, another ex-Star, in the FC Edmonton fold, and looks forward to the chance of proving the Stars — who spent big to get forwards Pablo Campos and Etienne Barbara along with ex-FCE midfielder Bryan Arguez to the Twin Cities area — wrong. “I’m really excited to be with FC Edmonton,” he said. “It’s a very good situation with the new coaches here. There’s going to be a good foundation, here.” Nunez was one of those Minnesota players (like Hlavaty) who stuck out when they played the Eddies. Amani Walker, now with Tampa Bay, is another. Nunez scored for Minnesota last August at Clarke Stadium. So FCE’s brass didn’t need much selling on Nunez’s talents. Martin Nunez, right, battles FCE defender David Proctor last season. The two are now teammates. Maybe the biggest surprise is that he was available. “Minnesota wasn’t interested in me and they were going in a different direction,” said Nunez. “Edmonton seemed to really like me a lot. I was kind of shocked at what happened in Minnesota. I thought I was a big part of their plans. I guess I was mistaken.” With Hlavaty and Nunez in the FCE fold, and Arguez on the other side, the Flyover Cup rivalry games this season might be a little saltier than they have been in the past. Add the fact the Barbara pulled out of an FC Edmonton deal for personal reasons and then signed with Minnesota, well we could actually see some really hard feelings between the sides this season.
