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It seems like ages ago since we discovered Junior Burgos was an Atlanta United player. The former Atlanta Silverbacks midfielder was technically the second ever player signed by the club back in February, but we’ve heard or seen very little from him since.
Burgos, 27, has been on loan with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL. Unfortunately he was quickly pushed out of the starting lineup early in their season and after the acquisition of Joe Cole, his playing time all but evaporated. Speaking with elGrafico.com, he admits that it was a very tough season.
“It was a season where I would have liked to have more prominence. I think it was a very difficult year for everyone, because we did not achieve the results we wanted.” - Roughly translated via Google
Despite the lack of minutes in 2016, Burgos is excited about the opportunity to prove himself with Atlanta United and to work with and learn from their new world-class manager, Tata Martino.
“It's a very good feeling. He has been at the highest levels of world football, I know he will transmit that experience to us. I hope to earn his trust with my work and desire to win.”
How did he even get noticed by Atlanta United? It turns out that Darren Eales and Carlos Bocanegra scouted him in his time with the Silverbacks and liked what they saw.
“President Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra (former player of the US team) were monitoring me last season in Atlanta. They liked the way I play, my workouts and my willingness in the field. That's why they hired me.”
Even with the club being brand new, he believes that they will have aspirations of making the playoffs in their first year. Something only one other club, the Seattle Sounders, has managed to accomplish. That along with getting playing time are his goals for 2017.
“I hope to win the confidence of the coach because I want to add many minutes in the field. It is a new franchise, I think the goal will be to make the "playoffs" and fight for the championship. In football everything is possible.”
It would be great to see Burgos playing for Atlanta United. It would be a fantastic story to have a former Silverbacks star playing at the highest level in the same city. Hopefully that comes to fruition.