Atlanta United: What does Florentin Pogba mean for Leandro Gonzalez Pirez?

Atlanta United have signed centre-back Florentin Pogba this week. His arrival perhaps gives a sneak into what may happen to Leandro Gonzalez Pirez.

Atlanta United’s biggest move of the summer was to replace the outgoing Miguel Almiron with South American Player of the Year, Pity Martinez.

It is arguably the biggest swap that an MLS club has ever made and it is currently changing the very landscape of the league.

But amidst the chaos and fanfare, another transfer rumour surfaced on the January deadline day: Leandro Gonazlez Pirez was the subject of interest from Boca Juniors, with the Argentinian allegedly allured by the prospect of playing in his home country and potentially pushing for an international career.

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A sale was never very close to happening, with Atlanta keen to keep hold of the anchor of their defence, but it indicated that the Five Stripes will now have to work to convince Gonzalez Pirez to stay in Georgia. Gonzalez Pirez confirmed that he has a year left on his original contract to run but the club has a two-year extension option on that. Expect them to take it.

Nevertheless, even if Atlanta pick up those two years, Gonzalez Pirez has now attracted the attention of his domestic league. And that could spell trouble for United. Like with Almiron, once a player sets his sights on leaving, it is almost always wise to sell. Keeping an unhappy player rarely goes well, especially when they can be sold for decent money, which Almiron was and Gonzalez Pirez could be.

What makes the future of Gonzalez Pirez even more interesting is Atlanta’s most recent acquisition. The older brother of Paul Pogba, Florentin Pogba, arrived this week on a free transfer. After departing from Turkish side Genclerbirligi a year ago, Pogba had been looking for a new club. Now, he will ply his trade in whole another new continent.

Pogba, a left-footed centre-half with the versatility and skill to play all along the backline, is not necessarily a direct replacement for Gonzalez Pirez, who has been a mainstay at the heart of the Atlanta defence since his arrival two years ago. But although Pirez will stay for another half-season at least, that does not mean that Pogba is not an eventual successor for the Argentinian.

Darren Eales and Atlanta United are cleverly bolstering their centre-back options. Do they really need Pogba this season? Perhaps, though he will not be an automatic starter when he arrives at Mercedez-Benz Stadium. But he does offer great depth and flexibility for the future, which could be vital if Pirez departs.

Pogba’s arrival could have nothing to do with the future of Gonzalez Pirez. But it does provide Atlanta with cover, cover that they may need to call on down the line.