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The River Plate midfielder joins Alonso, Díaz, Amaro and Embolo among Atlanta's summer additions through the spine of the team.
Giuliano Galoppo joins Atlanta United on loan
Atlanta United completed the summer rebuild of its spine with the signing of Giuliano Galoppo on loan from River Plate through the 2027 sprint season, pending his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa. Galoppo will occupy an international roster spot.
The club added centerbacks Junior Alonso and Paulo Díaz, midfielder Mauricio Amaro, and striker Breel Embolo before bringing in Galoppo, reshaping the central core of the team from back to front.
Atlanta retains an option to make the move permanent. Conditions on the option were not revealed. However, Argentine reporting has placed the potential purchase at $6 million, with the move becoming obligatory if Galoppo reaches certain objectives.
A Way Out of River
Galoppo had a difficult final few months at River. He last played May 20 against Red Bull Bragantino in the Copa Sudamericana before being removed from the first-team group as part of River’s summer restructuring. He was one of 14 players sidelined as River reduced its roster and worked to move players out. Galoppo had been training separately while waiting for a move.
Galoppo has not played a competitive match in more than three months, so Atlanta should expect him to need time to regain match fitness before he is ready for a starting role.
He will also find a familiar face in Atlanta. Paulo Díaz left River earlier this summer after being moved out of the club’s plans.
Who Starts in Midfield
Galoppo has made 194 professional appearances between Banfield, São Paulo and River Plate, scoring 39 goals with eight assists. He scored 21 times in 86 appearances for Banfield before moving to Brazil in 2022, then added 10 goals in 60 appearances with São Paulo. He returned to River in January 2025 and made the move permanent at the beginning of this year. Galoppo finished his time there with eight goals and an assist in 48 appearances.
Galoppo has consistently contributed goals from central midfield throughout his career, often making runs into attacking areas without playing as a traditional attacking midfielder. Chris Henderson highlighted this as part of the signing. Giuliano is a dynamic midfielder who has a good tactical understanding of the game, quality on the ball and the ability to contribute goals from midfield. He can play multiple positions in midfield and will raise the level of competition within the group as we continue to strengthen our roster heading into the final stretch of the season. Chris Henderson - Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director 
And Henderson has certainly raised the amount of competition for spots in midfield.
Muyumba, Sanchez, and Reilly have regularly started this season. Fortune is expected to compete for the starting spot when healthy. Steven Alzate remains an option. Adrian Gill was a breath of fresh air in his 3 starts. Then came Amaro.
By my count, that makes 8 players competing for 3 spots. It’s a game of hot potato with far too many players for the available minutes.
I expect Galoppo and Amaro to get starts. Once healthy, I can see Fortune starting above Muyumba. Which would push Muyumba, Sanchez, and possibly Gill to the bench. Reilly is the odd man out being sent back to the 2’s, which may be more at his current level.
Then there’s Alzate. I don’t think I’ve seen enough from him to be able to judge his ability compared with the others. It’s clear that Martino doesn’t view him as a starter. Atlanta did not utilize the buyout on him, leaving two realistic options. He could still be transferred or loaned to one of the leagues where the window remains open, or he stays and becomes another option off the bench. If Alzate stays, Gill could then find himself back with Atlanta United 2 despite how well he played when given three consecutive starts.
One thing is certain. There is suddenly a lot more competition in midfield.