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Many Atlanta United fans have noticed in recent days that one of last year’s first team regulars, Matheus Rossetto, has been missing from the team as the squad has participated in friendly competitions in the lead-up to the 2021 campaign.
Manager Gabriel Heinze, speaking with reporters Saturday afternoon, explained why the Brazilian midfielder has been missing.
“Rossetto got injured a couple weeks ago,” Heinze said through a translator. “Now he’s traveling to his country because of personal reasons.”
As an additional note (though of less pertinence), Heinze also said Alex De John was injured last week and is hoping the defender to return sometime next week. De John was a participant in last Saturday’s scrimmage against the Charleston Battery.
Rossetto, as an international player by league designation, is a key figure in the context of Atlanta United’s roster compliance within MLS regulations. Atlanta appears to be over the international player limit by one after acquiring an additional international roster spot last week from the Colorado rapids in exchange for $225,000 of general allocation money.