Miguel Almiron return to Atlanta United not working out as hoped
When Miguel Almirón made his emotional return to Atlanta United this past January, the stars appeared to align perfectly. Six years after departing Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Newcastle United in a then-club record £21 million transfer, the Paraguayan playmaker came home to a hero’s welcome.
His second debut couldn’t have been scripted better – an electric atmosphere with 65,520 fans creating a wall of sound, a vintage performance, and that magical moment in the 85th minute when Almirón’s perfectly weighted pass set up Edwin Mosquera’s winning goal against Montreal.
The scenes of jubilation that followed seemed to confirm this reunion was destined for greatness.
Yet fast forward just three months, and the dream return has lost much of its luster. Atlanta United’s season has unraveled dramatically since that opening night triumph, with Almirón’s individual struggles mirroring his team’s collective collapse.
The numbers paint a sobering picture: one win in their last nine MLS matches, five scoreless outings in eight starts for Almirón, and a precipitous 24,000-fan drop in attendance from that euphoric home opener to their most recent defeat.
For a franchise that built its identity around attacking verve and box-office excitement, this slump represents more than just poor results – it threatens the very energy that made Atlanta United the darlings of American soccer.
The Statistical Decline
Comparing Almirón’s two Atlanta tenures reveals concerning contrasts:
| Metric | First Spell (2017-2019) | Current Spell (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 65 | 9 |
| Goals | 22 | 2 |
| Assists | 19 | 1 |
| Goal Involvements per Game | 0.63 | 0.33 |
| Average Home Attendance | 53,002 | 53,700 (skewed by opener) |
While sample size cautions against overreaction, the trajectory is unmistakable. The explosive dynamo who terrorized MLS defenses during Atlanta’s 2018 championship run has been replaced by a more subdued version – still technically gifted, but lacking the incisive edge that once made him unplayable.
Some decline was inevitable for the now-31-year-old after six physically demanding years in the Premier League, but few anticipated such a stark drop-off from his opening night promise.
From a Newcastle United perspective, the £11 million sale looks increasingly like exemplary business. While sentimentalists might mourn the departure of a player who became a cult figure during Tyneside’s Saudi-era resurgence, the cold realities of modern football finance make this transaction a textbook case of perfect timing.
With Financial Fair Play pressures mounting, extracting maximum value from an aging squad player represents smart management – especially when that sale contributed significantly to the £30 million PSR profit generated from the winter exits of Almirón and Lloyd Kelly.
Eddie Howe’s system had already evolved beyond Almirón’s specific skill set, with the Paraguayan’s minutes dwindling as Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes emerged as preferred options.
His sale created necessary space and funds for Newcastle’s continued squad regeneration while avoiding the pitfalls of emotional contract extensions to popular but declining players – a trap that has ensnared many ambitious clubs.
For Atlanta United, this slump presents an existential challenge. Their brand was built on spectacle and success, with Almirón’s initial tenure establishing the template for how ambitious MLS franchises could captivate local markets.
The danger isn’t just lost points, but fading relevance in a crowded Atlanta sports landscape that has little patience for mediocrity.
Almirón’s personal mission now becomes reigniting the magic that made him an MLS MVP candidate. The tools remain – his work ethic never wavered at Newcastle, and flashes of quality still emerge.
Perhaps adjusting to a more central role as his pace diminishes, or forming partnerships with new signings like Emmanuel Latte Lath could spark revival.
What began as a fairy tale now tests the resilience of both player and club. In professional sports, homecomings often promise more than they deliver – the nostalgia of past glories rarely accounting for present realities.
Yet if anyone can author a second act worthy of his first, it’s the relentless competitor who went from MLS unknown to Premier League mainstay. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium faithful who roared his name in February await that version’s return.