The work that Nick Firmino started in 2018 came to fruition Tuesday when Atlanta United announced it signed him to a first-team contract.
Firmino, 22, was coming off career-bests in goals (16) and assists (6) with Atlanta United 2 during its MLS Next season when Vice President Carlos Bocanegra told him of team’s plans three weeks ago. Firmino’s contract is through the 2026 season.
“It wasn’t a quick-and-easy road to the first team,” he said. “So I feel like that makes me appreciate it even more. So, I’m excited and ready to go and ready to help the group in any way that I can.”
The road started more than five years ago and almost 1,000 miles away when Firmino signed a Homegrown contract with New England.
He played there for two years in its academy, never making it to the first team. He was released following the 2020 season and went on trial with Nashville for two months. Nashville didn’t sign him. Firmino said it was his low point. He signed with Union Omaha in USL League One for the 2021 season.
“It all happened so fast, but now that I look back on it, I think that that helped me tremendously from my mindset, and just to know that this game isn’t easy, and like I said, no squad, should be taken for granted,” he said. “And the position that I’m in now, knowing everything that I know, I think I’m in a lot better shape than I was before.”
Firmino signed with Atlanta United 2 for the 2022 season. He scored three goals in 34 appearances and played well enough to be included in Atlanta United’s preseason squad for the 2023 season. He said playing with the first-teamers improved his fitness and ability to read a match.
The team sent him to Atlanta United 2 to play as an attacking midfielder. He excelled. Though not as fast as others, his ability to read a match and understand the flow of a game and his technical ability made him one of the league’s best players.
“We know that power that he can give us and attack now,” manager Gonzalo Pineda said. “He’s someone that can, for sure, perform very well in those moments where we need a more aggressive midfielder that can give us more numbers and presence inside the box.”
And, of course, there was his goal for Atlanta United against NYCFC on June 21. Firmino was signed to a four-day contract because the team was depleted by injuries. Trailing 2-1, Firmino was subbed on in the 85th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Seven minutes later, Firmino found a pocket of space in the 18-yard box and headed home the tying goal.
Firmino said he may not have earned the contract without that goal because in his opinion it showed that he could positively affect the first team, even if he was on the field for just a few minutes.
“Can I change the game? Can I be positive coming off the bench,” he said. “Yeah, I think that helped tremendously.”
After the conclusion of the MLS Next season, Firmino rejoined the first team for training session. Tristan Muyumba said he watched Firmino play a couple of times for Atlanta United 2 and has watched him in training. Muyumba said Firmino has a positive future.
“He has a lot of quality,” Muyumba said. “To have him with the team is good for him, good for the squad. Now, he needs to work to find a place in the squad.”
Firmino said he plans to do the work necessary. He said his offseason will be spent preparing so that he enters camp in January in the best possible shape. He believes that performing well in camp is a good omen for getting minutes with the first team.
The competition won’t be easy. The team has Thiago Almada, one of the better players in MLS, as an attacking midfielder. If Alamada is sold during the winter window, the team likely will sign another quality attacking midfielder to replace him. Muyumba is the likely starter as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder, with Homegrown signee Jay Fortune also competing as a central midfielder. The team also must decide the futures of Franco Ibarra and Santiago Sosa, who are defensive midfielders.
The competition will be tough.
“What I’ve always done is work,” he said. “I’ll focus on myself to be the best version of myself that I can be so that I can be used in many positions. I pride myself on being a versatile player. And I know this is just the beginning. The real work begins to try to gain a spot. That’s how I got here. That’s how I plan to push on.”
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1
May 13 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 1
May 17 Atlanta United 4, Colorado 0
May 20 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 3
May 27 Atlanta United 1, Orlando 1
May 31 Atlanta United 3, New England 3
June 7 Atlanta United 0, LAFC 0
June 10 Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1
June 21 Atlanta United 2, New York City 2
June 24 New York Red Bulls 4, Atlanta United 0
July 2 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 0
July 8 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
July 12 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 15 Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1
July 25 Miami 4, Atlanta United 0 in Leagues Cup
July 29 Cruz Azul 1 (5), Atlanta United (4) 1 in Leagues Cup
Aug. 20 Atlanta United 2, Seattle 0
Aug. 26 Atlanta United 4, Nashville 0
Aug. 30 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
Sept. 2 Atlanta United 2, FC Dallas 2
Sept. 16 Atlanta United 5, Inter Miami 2
Sept. 20 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 1
Sept. 23 Atlanta United 4, Montreal 1
Oct. 4 Philadelphia 3, Atlanta United 2
Oct. 7 Atlanta United 1, Columbus 1
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, 6 p.m.
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