Flamengo tease sparks Thiago Almada buzz as José Boto says deal not done | OneFootball

A cryptic post on Flamengo’s Spanish-language page, featuring the Argentine flag and saying the CM, the community manager, was playing a virtual game with an Argentine player, whipped up talk of Thiago Almada. Football director José Boto said the signing is not complete.

“I did not go to Argentina to convince Almada, because it would be stupid on his part if I had to go there to convince him. He played in Brazil for six months and knows Flamengo’s size. I dealt with several matters there, and one of them was Almada,” he told Coluna Do Fla.

“We will not enter auctions with other interested clubs, or with those who are not interested but pretend they are. Do you know how many transfers of 20 million euros or more have happened in Brazilian football? Seven. Two by Flamengo, two by Palmeiras, two by Botafogo and one by Cruzeiro. All in the last two years. Only four Brazilian clubs have operated at that level,” he added.

Boto travelled to Argentina to speak with the player’s representative about timelines. Flamengo want pace, with Cruzeiro awaiting on 12 August in the Copa Libertadores last 16. For eligibility across both legs, first at Mineirão then Maracanã, the Argentine would need to sign this week.

Disputed by River Plate and Flamengo, Almada is in Ibiza on holiday after the World Cup final on 19 July. He does not intend to cut short his break before choosing his next move, while the Rio club want an answer this week.

The post drew a flood of playful replies, many referencing the Argentine flag and linking the tease to Almada, underlining how strongly the message resonated with supporters.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”