Miguel Almiron was already of interest to Atlanta United before the club hired Gerardo Martino as its first manager, president Darren Eales said on Tuesday.
But Martino was definitely interested in trying to sign the Paraguayian playmaker.
Martino, formerly coach of Argentina’s national team, likely saw Almiron play several times while with his previous club, Lanus, in the country’s first division.
“He was on our radar,” Eales said. “We had a lot of players on our radar. Clearly for us, once ‘Tata’ (Martino) was on board, this was one of his top priorities.”
Eales said Almiron and Hector Villalba, an Argentinian midfielder/player signed earlier this year, are exactly the types of quick, skillful players that will fit into Martino’s pressing system.
Almiron, 22 years old, has made seven appearances for Paraguay’s national team, and was reportedly pursued by Arsenal and Chelsea in England’s Premier League.
That he chose to sign with Atlanta United is a sign of the team and league’s potential, according to Eales.
"For us, as s club, it's a big step," Eales said. "As we are trying to make the league better in quality we clearly need to attract younger players in their prime."
The signing announced last week of Brandon Vazquez , an 18-year-old forward who has made several appearances for U.S. youth national teams, was part of the discovery process, a mechanism used by MLS teams to acquire players.
Eales said the team found Vazquez through scouting, added him as one of several players MLS teams can put on their discovery lists, and were fortunate to sign him.
“We are always looking to acquire, as well as talent straight to the first team, we want to get that young talent coming through,” Eales said. “We are trying to build a club short term, medium and long term.”
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