Atlanta United centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez is having a blast being a first-time father.
The Argentine’s wife Melina gave birth to Emilia last week at Northside Hospital.
Gonzalez Pirez scored his first goal this season in Friday’s 2-1 win at Orlando City, and celebrated by putting his thumb in his mouth as if it were a pacifier to honor mother and daughter.
“When I go home, and I go in, and I see her, it’s amazing,” he said. “I want to take her in my hands. I stay with her all the time.”
Gonzalez Pirez said wife and baby are both healthy and doing well.
He said in the first few days it was difficult to concentrate on soccer, but he said he’s now able to focus on work when he’s at work.
He said he is getting about 4-5 hours of sleep each night, which is less than he was getting before Emilia was born. He said Emilia rarely cries.
“It’s amazing,” he said.
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