On Monday, TyC Sports journalist Gastón Edul sat down with Thiago Almada at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. During the conversation, Almada revealed that he had spoken the day prior to Argentine footballing legend Juan Román Riquelme, the president of Boca Juniors.
Just about everything we’d seen and heard to that point suggested that Almada would command a massive transfer fee and end up in Europe: maybe not for the record-breaking sum that had been surmised at one point, but for a healthy one nonetheless. But outside of the reports of Lyon’s outspoken American owner, John Textor, looking to back-door a move for Almada to the Ligue 1 club through his Brazilian holding, Botafogo, European interest has dried up recently.
And Boca Juniors have taken notice.
Keep in mind Boca aren’t a poor club by Argentinan standards: only archrival River Plate (US$112.7 million) is worth more as a club than Boca (US$94.7 million), whose biggest incoming transfer was, coincidentally, Riquelme in 2007 (US$15M). While Almada made it clear that no offer had been made for his services from Boca at that moment, it’s clear that there’s interest on both sides, with multiple reports stating that Atlanta have set a price of US$8 million for 50 percent of his rights and Almada stating that he’d have to talk any offer over with his family.
For starters, it’s clear Almada feels that he’s at a bit of a dead end at Atlanta. I don’t think he’s been sandbagging his performances to force a move because it doesn’t make sense from a professional standpoint. But Atlanta is a much, much different club than when he first came in: its reputation certainly proceeded itself when he arrived, but he didn’t envision playing for a near-last place team at this stage. (Some would argue that he may not even have envisioned himself even being here this long, but that’s a different story.) Why not go back home to be closer to his family and play for one of his country’s legendary Cinco Grandes clubs? That’s not to mention that Giorgos Giakoumakis is now at Cruz Azul, with Giakoumakis and Almada never developing the chemistry with Almada that Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron displayed in 2017 and 2018 (partially due to Giakoumakis’s injury history).
It’s also worth talking about his form: Almada has been in a rut. Some would argue that Gonzalo Pineda didn’t set him up for success before he was fired, which I don’t totally disagree with because I’ve long held that player development wasn’t Pineda’s strong suit. Others would argue that Almada is trying too hard to be “the man” and force things rather than settling down and taking a more calculated approach. That “trying too hard” mentality is when we see the worst of him as it makes him more mistake-prone, and if that’s evident to us here, then rest assured scouts in Europe are taking notice, too.
None of that has seemed to spook Boca Juniors, and it’s clear it wants a deal done sooner rather than later: if Almada has an exceptional performance at the Olympics, that European interest will be renewed, potentially pushing his price tag beyond what Boca are willing to pay. And while Atlanta certainly envisioned getting a higher return on its investment, having two open Designated Player slots open for the transfer window opens up some major possibilities, albeit at the expense of writing off what’s left of 2024 without a player on the roster that, on his worst day, is still better than a good portion of the league.
Could Thiago Almada eventually end up in Europe? Absolutely. But at this point, it looks like he may need to go home again to get there.
Almada needs better players around him to get to the next level. He doesn’t even have a capable player to play “give and go” or players that can create space for him. I enjoy watching him play; he hasn’t had any time off and has played probably the most minutes than anybody. Opposing teams now totally focus on him (sometimes 3 markers) since we don’t have anybody else they need to worry about. It’s too bad.
Almada’s post game comments yeaterday sure don’t make it seem like a move is near
our best bet is hope that Almada balls out at the Olympics and it makes the European clubs forget his poor fitness with Atlanta this year…maybe if he also continues to hold the captain’s band for Argentina helps boost his confidence as well
Blaming Pineda for the lack of performance by a DP making millions seems like a stretch, but par for the course for some. He should show up every game with his big boy pants on for what he’s making. Blaming others and circumstances aren’t a good look.
The bottom line is the guy lacks leadership qualities, is a bit petulant, lacks deep vision on the pitch and is woefully inconsistent (in no small part a function of his disposition).
Granted the guy can still mature a bit as a player, but at 23, in a world of Yamal’s, Cremaschi’s, Brennan’s, etc…the margins are slim. He and he alone is responsible for his character. Vision is difficult if not impossible to impart, leadership even less so. Guys who have it are playing for Barcelona at 17 and not dithering playing pouty pants.
There’s a fine line in football between someone with some really decent skills but just doesn’t have the total package.
The situation reminds me of Pity. Granted, he’s much better, but PM had plenty of apologists blaming the system and coach and what has he done? Nada. Again, he’s way better than Pity but…
Argue all day long but the most likely outcome is he goes to S America and stays put with no remotelybig European offers in the future. Maybe he ends up with a latter career deal in Turkey or the like. Time will ultimately prove that out.
By my count there are 11 midfielders in the east that contribute more to their respective clubs. At least a handful more in the west. Instead of attempting to hit a development homerun with a diamond in the rough that can be sold for MiggyMoney, we should just sign someone capable and reliable who shows up to chop wood and sacrifice a little razzmatazz for vision and strong leadership, especially for that role.
Take the money and move on.
He had 12 goals and 16 assists (not sure how many of those were MLS hockey assists, but still…) in 33 matches last year under Pineda. Pineda hasn’t held him back at all.
Almada’s situation simply highlights the risks that come with trying to replicate the Almiron model. The club took a risk that he would have a productive start to the season and command a record breaking fee after the olympics.
The club and Almada clearly werent on the same page as Almada was very vocal about about going to Europe in the winter.
Like anyone who thinks they are worthy of a promotion but arent getting one, you either push harder or take your foot off the gas.
Defn. One reason it’s difficult to replicate is there is this underlying assumption that European clubs must be unsophisticated and Atl somehow has the secret sauce of analytics. Given what Almada was signed for originally, seems like many European clubs would be interested if all he needed was a little coaching and a surrounding cast. The idea that they couldn’t do likewise to better effect doesn’t hold much water. Not that it doesn’t ever happen because it does but usually not going to happen with guys that already had visibility and a hard look but was a no, thanks. Now can’t wait to hear all the accolades from certain quarters after an atrocious game and a single desperate converted attempt vs an empty DC midfielder and depleted defense. Again…way too inconsistent and will never be a producer at the highest levels.
My brain short circuited just reading all the assumptions in the first 2 paragraphs, and I had to stop early.
Almada will likely shine in the olympics with a great coach who will set him up to succeed and skilled teammates who know how to move without the ball. He will be motivated to prove himself and of course to represent his country with class. He has an opportunity to significantly increase interest from Europe. And if he doesn’t, Boca will still be there. No need to move him before then.
Man, I feel for Almada. Had European interest, and then you had all that party stuff go down, and you end up at United suffering under years of Front Office mismanagement.
Get as much as possible for him now and let’s move on. We are now a crap franchise, so let’s try again next year. All though we have said that for four seasons.
Can’t say the recent news has been great. Our talented but often hurt striker is gone, but at least for a profit. Amador seems like a cheap signing meant more to fill a possible future void for a while than being a big incoming gain who’ll make us better. Now Almada may be sold, mostly in desperation, for barely over half what we paid to get him with the false promise that by holding onto 50% of his sell on rights, we’ll make money down the road from that. Good luck on that one. Valentino has my sympathy in trying to navigate through all this.
Maybe Ive been naive over where we have been in the past, but this is starting to feel like an all time low for me.
What a disaster. Let Almada go wherever, but hire a real coach before filling the 2 DP slots.
We’re the new Chicago Fire.
best scenario for almada? go find your mojo playing the kind of football you enjoy. best scenario for altanta? grow your investment. and i don’t think will happen here anytime soon. this rebuild will take a bit.
as long as we retain a significant portion of his rights and/or a sell on clause, the club stands to gain by him moving to greener pastures, and so does thiago.
The renovation has become a remodel. Almada is game changing when he’s on, and always distracts defenders regardless. But they’re not getting 20m from Europe for his performance over the last two years.
If he wants to go home I can’t blame the kid.