Atlanta United announced today that goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo has signed a Short-Term Agreement for the club’s Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 match at LD Alajuelense Tuesday night. Per MLS rule, The four-day contract allows clubs to sign players on loan from their USL affiliate for U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, AMWAY Canadian Championship and exhibition matches.
Ríos Novo, 18, signed with Atlanta United 2 on loan from Lanús 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.
An MLS club may sign a player to a maximum of four short term agreements each season (maximum of 16 days).
Atlanta United will begin its 2021 season Tuesday night in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 match at LD Alajuelense in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 8:00 p.m. EST (FS1). The return leg will be played at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw on Tuesday, April 13.
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 5, 2021
2021 Atlanta United roster (as of April 5, 2021)
Goalkeepers (4): Brad Guzan, Alec Kann, Ben Lundgaard, Rocco Rios Novo^
Defenders (13): Mikey Ambrose, George Bello, George Campbell, Alex De John, Jack Gurr, Franco Escobar, 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 Defensa y Justicia
** - on loan with New York Red Bulls