After four titles and a run with Atlanta United that saw him serve as club captain and league ambassador, Leandro González Pirez’s time with Atlanta United officially ended over the weekend. The Argentine defender is a Club Tijuana player now, ending weeks of speculation about his future, while simultaneously bringing to a close the most successful chapter of the 27-year-old’s well-traveled career.



In his time in MLS, Gonázlez Pirez vehemently defended Atlanta United’s ideals and playing philosophy at every opportunity. He debunked the notion that playing in MLS meant that one’s career was in decline. In three seasons in Atlanta, González Pirez became one of the league’s top center backs and he epitomized the type of South American talent that can adapt quickly and thrive in the U.S.



So why was Atlanta United willing to transfer him?



It’s a question that Atlanta United’s fan base...