Atlanta United announced today it has signed Atlanta United 2 goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo to a Short-Term Agreement ahead of the club’s 2021 MLS Regular Season Opener due to Extreme Hardship.
MLS clubs may only sign players to Short Term Agreements for MLS Regular Season games in cases of Extreme Hardship. An Extreme Hardship exists only when an MLS club has either fewer than 16 outfield players available or fewer than two goalkeepers available. Due to injuries to Alec Kann (shoulder) and Ben Lundgaard (lower body), Atlanta’s First Team roster has only one goalkeeper available.
Ríos Novo, 18, has twice signed Short Term Agreements with the club so far this year and made his club debut on April 6 in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, coming on in first half stoppage time against LD Alajuelense after Brad Guzan was given a red card. He made six saves, setting the club’s single game CCL record, and was named the Man of the Match as Atlanta United secured a crucial 1-0 road win. He started the second leg a week later, April 13, also keeping a clean sheet as Atlanta won 1-0 and advanced to SCCL quarterfinals 2-0 on aggregate.
On loan from Lanús, Ríos Novo signed with Atlanta United 2 on March 2. He was born in Los Angeles, California but moved to Argentina at a young age where he joined Lanús’ youth academy. He has been a fixture with Argentina’s Youth National Teams representing the U-15s and the U-17s. He was the starting goalkeeper during the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2019 South American U-17 Championship, where Argentina won its fourth title as Ríos Novo collected five clean sheets in eight matches.
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Rocco Ríos Novo
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
Birthdate: June 4, 2002 (18)
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Citizenship: United States, Argentina
Transaction: Signed a four-day Short-Term Agreement with Atlanta United on April 16, 2021
2021 Atlanta United roster (as of April 16, 2021)
Goalkeepers (4): Brad Guzan, Alec Kann, Ben Lundgaard, Rocco Rios Novo^
Defenders (15): Mikey Ambrose, Josh Bauer, George Bello, George Campbell, Alex De John, Franco Escobar, Alan Franco, Jack Gurr, Andrew Gutman, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon, Fernando Meza, Efrain Morales, Miles Robinson, Anton Walkes
Midfielders (11): Mo Adams, Ezequiel Barco, Machop Chol, Jürgen Damm, Emerson Hyndman, Franco Ibarra, Marcelino Moreno, Jake Mulraney, Matheus Rossetto, Santiago Sosa, Tyler Wolff
Forwards (5): Jackson Conway, Erik Lopez, Lisandro López, Josef Martinez, Erick “Cubo” Torres
^ - on four-day Short Term Agreement
* - on loan with Newell’s Old Boys
* - on loan with New York Red Bulls
** - on loan with Defensa y Justicia
