With Atlanta United’s recent signing of Alexey Miranchuk as a Designated Player, not too much is known about the player himself and his skillset. So, Scarves and Spikes interviewed Nigel of Atalanta BC News on X/Twitter to see how he viewed Miranchuk as a player during his time in Italy.
Who is Aleksey Miranchuk? What are his skills, strengths, and weaknesses as a player?
In terms of his skills and strengths, he is a superb technical player with good movement and an eye for a pass. Weaknesses? It’s difficult to answer this because Miranchuk is not only a good player, but someone I enjoy watching. Sounds harsh, but you could identify his lack of ability to break into the team despite his ability.
How was Miranchuk’s time at Atalanta? What role did he have at the club?
He arrived in Bergamo with a great deal of excitement. Unfortunately, he never really got a good run in the team to be able to establish himself. Typically when he featured, he played as an attacking midfielder behind two more advanced players, and despite his opportunities being fairly limited, he still produced some good moments and contributed to our Europa League success.
What is the most memorable moment of Miranchuk at Atalanta for you?
Luis Muriel, now with Orlando City, won the goal of the season for Atalanta with a stunning 93rd-minute back heel against Milan. It was Miranchuk in the build up, and Miranchuk with the assist the made the goal. Our form had been bad going into the match, and you could argue this goal totally transformed our season. It was a massive moment.
Do you think now is the right time for Miranchuk to leave the club? Do you believe the transfer fee paid for him (reported $13 million USD) is fair?
I think the time is right for him to move on, but I’ll be sad to see him go. He is well liked by Atalanta fans. Looking at the finances involved, I think it’s a fair price for all parties. We get a good return for him, while Atlanta get a player that has the potential to shine in the league.
How do you think Miranchuk will do in Atlanta as the heavily relied-upon No. 10?
Honestly, this is quite an intriguing bit of business. He is just the sort of player I could see doing really well in MLS. At his age, with his experience and technical ability, this is a player that could be one of the very best players in the league and a star for Atlanta. Based on what I know of his lifestyle via Instagram, I suspect he will also really enjoying living in America.
How do you feel about Nigel’s description of Miranchuk? Do you agree that he could be a star player for Atlanta? Let us know by commenting below.
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