# ¿Se Va Thiago Almada del Atlético de Madrid?

**By Tomás Ferreira**  \nPublished August 4, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> Thiago Almada's future at Atlético de Madrid hangs in the balance as River Plate and Flamengo compete for the Argentine midfielder's signature in a high-stakes summer transfer tug-of-war.

When Atlético de Madrid secured Thiago Almada in 2025 for roughly €21 million for 50 percent of his economic rights, the expectation was a dynamic injection of creativity in the final third. Instead, a challenging 2025-26 campaign under Diego Pablo Simeone saw the 25-year-old midfielder manage just 40 appearances and 1,704 total minutes, yielding only 2 goals and 2 assists. With a contract running until June 30, 2030, but a diminished role in the Wanda Metropolitano tactical blueprint, the club's leadership is actively orchestrating an *operación salida* to clear squad space and fund new arrivals like Morten Hjulmand, Kang-in Lee, and Alejandro Grimaldo.

The race for Almada's next destination has narrowed down to a fierce cross-continental tug-of-war between two South American heavyweights: Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo and Argentine giants River Plate. While European suitors from Saudi Arabia and Russia failed to materialize into serious bids, and a quiet summer with Argentina kept his market valuation from spiking, the playmaker's suitors are moving fast.

## The Dual Pursuit: Flamengo's Cautious Push vs. River's Sentimentality

Flamengo's football director José Boto publicly confirmed active talks, noting that negotiations were advancing while maintaining strict financial discipline. Es verdad que estamos interesados en Thiago. Es verdad que estamos en conversaciones con él. No hay nada cerrado, el jugador todavía no ha dado el 'sí'. Si viene, va a ser en las condiciones que nosotros queremos. No tenemos un pozo de petróleo para gastar dinero que no existe, declared Boto to *Paparazzo Rubro-Negro*. Parallel reports from *Ge* indicated a verbal agreement between Flamengo and the player's camp, backed by club president Luiz Eduardo Baptista asserting confidence despite temporary liquidity dips during the Club World Cup.

However, journalist César Luis Merlo reported a vital shift: Almada's personal preference tilts toward a return to his native Argentina. River Plate has accelerated formal negotiations, moving past initial soundings to discuss a structured proposal near the €20 million mark for his 50 percent rights. River's pursuit is further galvanized by the presence of fellow internationals like Nicolás Otamendi, Ángel Correa, Gonzalo Montiel, and Marcos Acuña, alongside a regulatory window allowing Argentine clubs to add players until September 2 following overseas sales.

## Tactical Fit and Financial Realities

For Atlético de Madrid, the objective is unambiguous: management under Mateu Alemany intends to recoup the initial investment of roughly €20 million. Because Atlético retains a long-term contract through 2030, they hold structural leverage despite Almada's modest output last term. Simeone's squad requires both salary relief and liquidity to fund additional targets like Jadon Sancho, whom the club has monitored as a free agent.

Tactically, Almada offers a versatile profile capable of operating across the half-spaces as a mediapunta, interior, or wide creator. His capacity to break defensive blocks via rapid acceleration, tight-space reception, and direct ball-carrying made him a prized asset during his prior stint at Botafogo and with Vélez. Yet, fitting that high-usage, ball-dominant skill set into Simeone’s rigid defensive structure proved problematic.

SuitorReported PostureValuation / Structure**Atlético de Madrid**SellerSeeking to recover ~€20M investment**River Plate**Preferred destination by playerApprox. €20M proposal for 50% rights**Flamengo**Active negotiatorStrict internal budget cap, prior verbal terms explored

## Evidence-Led Forecast

As the window progresses, the resolution hinges entirely on Almada's final choice between Flamengo's deeper financial pockets and River Plate's sentimental pull. Given that the player prioritizes a return to Argentina, River’s formalized talks and the flexibility of their September 2 transfer window give the club from Núñez a distinct edge, provided they can meet Atlético's firm €20 million valuation threshold. Expect the final hurdle to be structural payment terms rather than player consent.

## Sources

- [Celia Pérez](https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/mercado-de-fichajes/20260729/thiago-almada-salida-atletico-madrid-negociaciones-flamengo-cantidad-traspaso_18_019833884.html) — original
- [Juan Garrido](https://www.estoesatleti.es/articulo/noticias/adios-thiago-almada-confirma-conversaciones/20260723160000040178.html) — original
- [Marc Gázquez](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/atletico-de-madrid/atletico-inicia-operacion-salida-almada-132860293) — original
- [fichajes.net](https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/atletico-negocia-venta-thiago-almada-20260723.html) — original
- [estadiodeportivo.com](https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/futbol/atletico-madrid/thiago-almada-jugador-del-atletico-madrid-tiene-clara-prioridad-entre-river-plate-flamengo-20260801-543581.html) — original
- [si.com](https://www.si.com/es-us/futbol/atletico-de-madrid-le-pone-precio-a-thiago-almada-y-river-plate-acelera-las-charlas) — original
- [River Plate quiere dar uno de los grandes golpes del mercado sudamericano y ya comenzó las negociaciones formales para intentar fichar a Thiago Almada. Después de varios sondeos durante las ](https://www.beinsports.com/es-us/football/la-liga/articles/-se-va-thiago-almada-del-atl%C3%A9tico-de-madrid-2026-08-01) — original