Chris Henderson had just scouted a player in South America that he really liked. He told Garth Lagerwey that they had to sign the player.
That was in 2016. That player was Miguel Almiron. That club was Seattle. The Sounders instead traded Almiron’s Discovery Rights to Atlanta United, which signed him and watched him help the club win the MLS Cup in 2018.
Lagerwey and Henderson, now at Atlanta United, finally got Almiron. Six years to the day after he was sold to Newcastle for an MLS-record fee, Almiron was reintroduced as Atlanta United’s newest player Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where he became a fan favorite for his smile, playing style and results.
“From the very first moment that I found out that this situation was a possibility, I didn’t doubt it for a second,” Almiron said. “I’m very happy to be here.”
Lagerwey shared that anecdote Friday. “Thank you,” Almiron said when they reached the point in the telling about trading his rights to Atlanta United.
Such is the appreciation that those two had and have for Almiron, and that Almiron has for the club.
Lagerwey said there is no risk that the nostalgia that the club and its supporters feel for Almiron, who scored 21 goals with 28 assists and twice was a finalist for MVP, will be tainted by his return as long as everyone understands that he is a different, older player after six years in the Premier League.
Almiron is still fast. He just may not be able to run nonstop as he did in 2017 and ‘18. Lagerwey compared Almiron’s playing style now with Michael Jordan’s as he aged, when he began to trade fadeaway jumpers for dunks. Almiron will pick his spots. Almiron said he’s a better passer. He said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe taught him to be a better finisher. He finished with 30 goals and 22 assists in 223 appearances for the Magpies.
Lagerwey specifically mentioned that Almiron’s ability to cut inside from the right onto his favored left foot will help Alexey Miranchuk. Lagerwey said too many times last season Miranchuk had no one to play off and he’s an excellent at splitting lines with passes. Almiron can be a target for those through balls.
And there are intangibles. Henderson said Almiron’s energy is infectious, which is part of the reason he, Lagerwey and Almiron believe he will be an even better teammate than he was before.
“The thing that’s worked for me more than anything in my career has been if your best players are your hardest workers, they make the culture because every day they show up and nobody can hide,” Lagerwey said. “There is no one in the locker room. You don’t have to yell. You don’t have to say anything. In Miguel, we have that guy.”
There is a risk in signing a 30-year-old player to a big contract as a DP. The reported transfer fee to acquire him was as much as $12 million, if certain add-ons are hit. It’s still much less than the $27 million Atlanta United received when it sold him before the 2019 season.
Lagerwey said the club did its due diligence, from David Tenney in sports performance to Henderson and his team for the on-field analytics, to new manager Ronny Deila on how Almiron would work within his preferred 4-3-3 formation and pressing tactics.
“There’s no doubt in my mind he is going to be a really high level MLS player who makes an immediate impact, not just for him, but on his teammates,” Lagerwey said.
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Atlanta United’s 2025 schedule
Feb. 22 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple
March 1 at Charlotte, 2 p.m., Apple, Fox
March 8 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple
March 16 vs. Miami, 7 p.m., Apple
March 22 at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m., Apple
March 29 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 5 vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 12 vs. New England, 2:30 p.m., Apple, Fox
April 19 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 26 at Orlando, 7 p.m., Apple, Fox
May 3 vs. Nashville, 2:30 p.m., Apple, Fox
May 10 at Chicago, 2:30 p.m., Apple
May 14 at Austin, 8:30 p.m., Apple
May 17 vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple
May 25 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m., Apple
May 28 vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m., Apple
May 31 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 12 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 25 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 28 at Miami, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 5 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 12 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 16 vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m., Apple, FS1
July 19 vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 26 vs. Seattle, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 16 at Colorado, 9:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 24 vs. Toronto, 5 p.m., Apple
Aug. 30 at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Apple
Sept. 13 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Sept. 20 vs. San Diego, 4:30 p.m., Apple
Sept. 27 at New England, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Oct. 5 at LAFC, 10:30 p.m., Apple
Oct. 18 vs. D.C. United, 6 p.m., Apple
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