ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Looking at Atlanta United’s roster during its friendlies, and one last name stands out because it carries some fame.
Gallardo.
Surely that’s not the son of Marcelo Gallardo, former coach of River Plate and a standout for Argentina, River Plate, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, among other teams?
Yes, it is.
And Matias Gallardo, Marcelo’s son, is forging his own path.
“Whenever people hear my last name, my dad’s known all over the world, so they know who I am,” he said Friday at Al Lang Stadium. “But I’m trying to make my own career and be my own self.”
How Gallardo, who is 20, came from Argentina to Atlanta reflects that self-reliance.
Like his father, Gallardo came up through River Plate’s academy as an attacking midfielder. He broke into its reserve team and then its first team. HIs playing time began to diminish, so he and his agent began looking for an opportunity where he could better continue his development.
They found Atlanta United and Atlanta United 2.
Gallardo said he consulted with his father, who is coaching Saudi Arabia, who told him that MLS would be good for his development. Gallardo’s signing was announced July 27, 2023.
Gallardo said he didn’t know much about MLS, the club or the city before he signed. He began watching MLS to learn about the club, the league and because of Lionel Messi, who is, along with Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacio and Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada, among his favorite players.
Gallardo appeared in five games, making one start. He impressed Atlanta United’s coaching staff enough to be among the 2′s players to join the first team for training camp. Gallardo has played in each of the first three preseason matches. Gallardo said he feels like he is developing well. Against Memphis, Gallardo beat several tacklers as he dribbled up the field as Atlanta United searched for the tying goal. It was an impressive run that was reminiscent of past Atlanta United players Hector Villalba, Ezequiel Barco, Marcelino Moreno and Almada.
“(I want to show) the motivation, just the will to always be out here to train hard, to prove myself and yeah, just to get my best to show the coaching staff what I can do,” he said.
Gallardo will return to Atlanta United 2 once the preseason is complete. He said his goal is to earn a contract with the first team.
“Continue growing, to keep getting as many minutes and as many games as I can with the first team and to show them that, that I’m here whenever they need me,” he said.
Pineda said that Gallardo has potential.
“He’s a talented No. 10,” Pineda said. “Of course, he doesn’t know all the nuances in that position in my system and how we like the No. 10 to operate. So of course, you allow in that position to have some freedom to be creative, right? So it’s not that rigid for him. But of course, he has to follow certain principles on how to move and which spaces and pockets to occupy. And he has to progress on that. And then of course, as all the attacking players the final product, right, you need goals and assists from that position.”
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for our podcast listeners. If you subscribe today, you can get three months of unlimited digital access for just 99 cents. That’s all of our sports coverage, politics, breaking news, investigations, food and dining, and so much more on AJC.com. Plus, access to our ePaper and our assortment of newsletters. So, join our community by going to subscribe.ajc.com/podcasts that’s subscribe.ajc.com/podcasts so you always know what’s really going on.
Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 at Columbus, 2 p.m.
March 9 vs. New England, 7:30 p.m.
March 17 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m., FS1
March 23 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
March 31 vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m., Fox
April 6 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., Fox
April 20 vs. Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., Fox
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
About the Author
