Midfielder caught the eye at Botafogo, played half a season for Lyon and will join Atlético de Madrid
Atlético de Madrid completed the signing of Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada on Tuesday (15). He shone for Botafogo in 2024 and maintained his strong performance at Lyon, France.
His performances caught the attention of several European clubs. Atlético will pay around 40 million euros (R$ 260 million, at the current exchange rate) for the player. Coach Diego Simeone, in charge of the club for over 15 years, played a decisive role in the signing. He helped convince Almada and overcame competition from Benfica, Portugal.
Zenit, Russia, also tried to sign the midfielder. In 2024, Botafogo signed him for around 25 million dollars (R$ 137.4 million at the exchange rate at the time). Almada arrived from the United States, where he played in the MLS. He also played a role in Argentina’s World Cup and Copa América triumphs between 2022 and 2024.
With the Rio de Janeiro club, he won the Copa Libertadores and the Campeonato Brasileiro title for the first time. At Atlético, he replaces Ángel Correa. The Argentine striker left the club after a decade to play for Tigres UANL in Mexico. However, at Atlético, he will play alongside his Argentine teammates De Paul and Julián Alvarez.
Atlético de Madrid and Botafogo’s statements on the deal
“Agreement with Botafogo for the transfer of Thiago Almada. Our club and the Brazilian entity have reached an agreement, which will be confirmed once the player passes the relevant medical examinations and signs the contract,” the Spanish club said.
“Botafogo informs that it has reached an agreement with Atlético de Madrid for the transfer of 24-year-old Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada, which is still pending confirmation after the player passes the medical examinations and signs a contract with the Spanish club. Almada will travel to Madrid to undergo the necessary examinations and subsequently sign his contract to formalize the definitive agreement,” published Glorioso.
