We recently broke down Matas Galarza Fonda's move to Inter Miami . After a short stint with Atlanta United and an impressive run at the 2026 World Cup, the Herons added another player to their midfield.
However, this time, the Five Stripes announced the signing of one of the Paraguayan's former teammates, who spent time with him at River Plate.
Yes, we are talking about another midfielder, another "Cantilo container guy": Giuliano Galoppo . Galoppo certainly has the talent to make an impact for Atlanta United this season, but his recent track record at River Plate closely mirrors Galarza Fonda.
Although the Five Stripes' official announcement was just a simple photo, we were able to uncover the details of the signing.
"Galoppo's departure from River was completed through a loan deal until June 30, 2027, with a purchase option. Although the option was not officially disclosed, journalist Germn Garca Grova reported a few days ago that it could be worth $6 million."
Like Matas Galarza Fonda, Galoppo couldn't set foot on River Plate and ended up being separated from the first team, awaiting any offers.
With many rumours flying, the Argentine midfielder ended up arriving at the Five Stripes, waiting for Gerardo " Tata " Martino's orders.
Galoppo is an interesting player who will bring a lot to the squad. His passing and technique are good enough for the MLS, even better, but he had a hard time adapting to River's soccer style, so maybe that could be the case in Atlanta.
At first, the former Banfield player won the fans' hearts, but over time, some bad performances and the constant pressure from River Plate made him doubt himself, taking his best attributes - positioning and passing between the lines, as well as his ability to make runs to the edge of the opposition's box - to the ground.
The truth is that he's not a bad player. The pressure of Argentine soccer at a club like River simply got the better of him, which resulted in him barely playing during the semester and his level dropping, something he should be able to recover under Martino.
However, the loan makes the signing even better because there's no real risk. If things go the same way they did in Argentina, the MLS club can simply decide not to make the move permanent, and that's it.
So it's a win-win for the Five Stripes, and by their current spot in the Eastern Conference, they will need every bit of help they get.
This article was originally published on www.mlsmultiplex.com as Atlanta United's latest signing failed at River Plate but could thrive in MLS .
