Atlanta United was active in the 2017 winter transfer window, picking up Franco Escobar and completing a record-breaking deal for Ezequiel Barco. Then there was 19-year-old left back José Hernández, a discovery signing from Venezuela.



Hernández’s arrival was less heralded but also in keeping with the club’s strategy of bringing in young talent from South America. And though Hernández is young, he isn’t totally lacking in international experience. He was the starting left back for a Venezuela team that made a historic run at the 2017 U-20 World Cup in Korea. The unsung Vinotinto kicked off the tournament with a win over Germany and defeated Uruguay, the reigning U-20 South American champion, in the semifinals. In the country’s first World Cup final at any age level, they lost to England 1–0 in a closely contested match.



“A lot of people didn’t believe in us, but we knew that we were primed for...