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Atlanta United’s Gonzalez Pirez is a father

Atlanta United defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez takes it away from Charleston Battery during the first half in a U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Kennesaw. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Atlanta United defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez takes it away from Charleston Battery during the first half in a U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Kennesaw. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By
Aug 22, 2018

Atlanta United’s Leandro Gonzalez Pirez became a first-time father when his wife Melina gave birth to their daughter Emilia at Northside Hospital recently.

On Wednesday, Gonzalez Pirez was back training with the team ahead of Friday’s game at Orlando.

“The whole Atlanta United family is happy for him,” manager Gerardo Martino said. “Coming from Argentina, sometime the players and us have a different culture and football is so high on priorities that big life events like this gets passed up, but luckily Leandro is able to enjoy both things and now we can think about football.”

Gonzalez Pirez, 26, is a key player for Atlanta United, which leads MLS in points. He has 55 starts in the past two seasons and should be considered for the MLS Best 11 team at season’s end.

After Orlando, Atlanta United has three consecutive road games at D.C. United on Sept. 2, at Colorado on Sept. 15 and at San Jose on Sept. 19.

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Doug Roberson covers the Atlanta United and Major League Soccer.

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