The 2018 MLS SuperDraft will be remembered fondly by Atlanta United fans as the day the club finalized arguably the most significant transfer signing in MLS history, $15 million wonder-kid Ezequiel Barco. The AJC’s Doug Roberson reported that the official paperwork was processed around 1:45 pm, right as the draft’s second round was getting underway. Months of hard work by the front office was finally coming to fruition.
In the midst of all that excitement, United’s execs possibly got a bit sidetracked from the other task at hand, which was, well, the SuperDraft. With a team so heavily loaded with South American difference-makers and attacking depth already stretching into the club’s brand new reserve team, Atlanta’s draft plan looked pretty straight forward: pick up players who can add to the team’s depth in defense and midfield that won’t take up precious international slots.