American-born, however Argentina youth worldwide Rocco Rios Novo has returned to Atlanta for a second mortgage from Lanús following the damage to Brad Guzan. ASN’s Arch Bell spoke to Rios Novo about his alternative to assist Atlanta and reconnect along with his delivery nation.
BY
Arch Bell
Posted
June 03, 2022
7:35 AM
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IN A LOT OF WAYS, Atlanta United goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo has develop into a cult hero.
The 19-year-old got here out of nowhere final spring throughout Atlanta United’s Spherical of 16 collection with Alajuelense of Costa Rica within the 2021 Concacaf Champions League and delivered a composed efficiency in aim after relieving red-carded incumbent Brad Guzan within the second half of the primary leg.
Then, after all, there may be his trademark ‘bigote’, his moustache, which attracts admirers far and vast.
Taking part in on-loan for a second season from Argentine membership Lanus, the Los Angeles-born however Argentina-raised Rios Novo is embracing a one other crack at issues in Atlanta.
“I’m very happy for this new opportunity. I want to show everything that I am, everything I consider that I do well, my abilities, everything I have. I want to show that and contribute as much as I can to the team like always, so that we are where we always need to be, which is on top,” mentioned Rios Novo this week in an interview with American Soccer Now.
Rios Novo arrived to Atlanta for his first spell previous to the beginning of final season and outdoors of his emergency goalkeeping duties within the CCL, he spent the season with Atlanta United 2, taking part in 20 matches.
The season-ending Achilles damage to Brad Guzan this previous April prompted Atlanta to as soon as once more place one other name into Lanus, and again got here Rios Novo, this time serving because the membership’s back-up behind Bobby Shuttleworth whereas Guzan recovers.
“The truth is that I feel very confident. There in Argentina I was playing, I played a lot of games, a lot of minutes, so I feel very confident about goalkeeping. I feel like I am able to bring my best and for the moment I am having patience. I’m just waiting for the moment when it’s my time to play and to be able to contribute my best to the team,” mentioned Rios Novo.
Having the chance to be taught from the injured Guzan and one other veteran just like the 35-year-old Shuttleworth has been priceless.
“I’m a young goalkeeper and to train every day alongside a goalkeeper with so much experience like Bobby or Brad, it helps me a lot. I try to copy the good things that they have and try to have them give me advice and listen to what they say to me. It helps my experience.”
Nonetheless, it’s unimaginable to not mirror on that second in April 2021 when a crimson card proper earlier than halftime pressured Guzan off, and the little-known Rios Novo was all of the sudden being thrown into the fray by then-manager Gabriel ‘Gringo’ Heinze.
“They have been my first two video games as an expert. They’re nice reminiscences. I used to be fortunate sufficient that they have been each victories, that the crew carried out nicely, and it’ll at all times stay in my reminiscence and my coronary heart as a result of they have been essential video games for me.
“I admit that I was very nervous, but I knew that if I was there, it was for a reason. El Gringo gave me the confidence to goalkeep, and my teammates, too, because my teammates always supported me from the first minute from when I entered the field, helping me give my best on the field. I felt confident because I had been training hard, I had been doing things well, so I was very happy,” mentioned Rios Novo.
Like one other participant in MLS, CF Montreal’s Matko Miljevic, Rios Novo was born in america, however spent the big majority of his life rising up in Argentina. He was born in Los Angeles, however moved again to Argentina at age three along with his mom, whereas his father went to Mexico the place his father’s household all lives.
He doesn’t have any household nonetheless residing within the U.S. and by no means even traveled again to the U.S. till his mortgage deal final season. Since arriving in Atlanta, Rios Novo has not been again to L.A. to see the place the place he spent his infancy, however he’s eager to take action quickly.
“I really want to get to know it, to see it. I know I was there for three years, but of course I was so young. I can’t recall how it was, but I want to get to know the place of my origins, where I was born, where I grew up those three years. I would love to,” mentioned Rios Novo.
Not solely did his sturdy play as a younger goalkeeper within the Lanus youth system get Atlanta United’s consideration, however he additionally opened eyes in Argentina, as Rios Novo served because the Argentina Underneath-17 Nationwide Workforce’s No.1 through the 2019 South American Championship and the 2019 Underneath-17 World Cup.
Nevertheless, having been born within the U.S., Rios Novo nonetheless is eligible to play for the Stars and Stripes, however at this stage, with no contact coming from U.S. Soccer, it seems his future lies with the Albiceleste.
“Right now, I am only thinking about Argentina. I spent most of my life growing up in Argentina. They were the ones that gave me the opportunity to play with their youth national teams in various occasions, so I’m only thinking about Argentina. I’ve never received a message from people from the U.S., so the truth is that I’ve never thought about it,” concluded Rios Novo.
