Thiago Almada, an Atlanta United player, has stated as much. He wants to relocate to Europe immediately, not at some vague future time.
After leaving Vélez Sarsfield for Atlanta in February 2022, the Argentina international has grown to be one of the top talents in Major League Soccer. After reportedly spending $16 million for the playmaker, the Five Stripes ought to make a respectable profit on any transaction.
Almada was an MVP finalist in 2023 and also won the league’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring 11 goals and adding 19 assists.
Prior to the season, Almada became the first active MLS player to ever win a World Cup when he was a part of the Argentina squad that took home the prize in Qatar.
The 22-year-old has been consistently linked with a move to Europe almost since his arrival in MLS. The question has seemingly been when, rather than if, he would depart in a big-money transfer.
According to Almada, the time appears to be now.
“I want to go to Europe now,” Almada told ESPN Argentina. “I had interest from Ajax but it didn’t work out. We’ll see what happens now.”
Almada was reportedly a target for Ajax over the summer, but a move didn’t materialize. The Athletic reported that Atlanta United was asking for a figure close to the MLS record for an outbound transfer ($29 million).
Juan Román Riquelme, an ex-Argentina star who is currently vice-president of Boca Juniors, had plenty of complimentary words for Almada recently. The Atlanta United star said that a move to Boca could happen eventually but for now, his focus is in Europe.
“I saw what Román said, now I want to go Europe,” Almada said. “Maybe later [I could go to Boca]. I would love to play in the Champions League.”
At his end-of-season media availability last month, Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said his side was planning on having Almada around in 2024, but he also admitted that may not happen.
“Things change, as you guys know, in the transfer window,” Bocanegra said. “If [offers] come in December, January, we’ll have that conversation with the player. Does this offer fit? Is this the right place to go?
“But really with Thiago, we’ve created it where if he would like to stay and the right offer doesn’t come and the right club does not come in for him, then he’s okay to stay and he’s happy here. I think that’s great for us.
“We’re planning on him coming back. Things can change. I don’t want to say 100% he’s back because that’s how it works in the global football world. But great kid and at the moment we’re counting on him being part of our group next year.”
Leave a Reply