Benfica in talks for Thiago Almada, deemed surplus by Atlético de Madrid | OneFootball

In mid-2025, Thiago Almada was at the center of one of the most dazzling moves of the transfer market. The Argentine national team player left the ranks of an Olympique Lyon embroiled in serious conflicts to join Atlético de Madrid. Yes, that Colchonero side coached by Diego Simeone and filled with compatriots.

However, against all odds, the attacking midfielder who came up through the youth divisions of Vélez Sarsfield was unable to settle in as expected at the club in the Spanish capital. On the contrary, despite seeing action on a relatively regular basis, he did not deliver his best performances and failed to satisfy the coaching staff.

As a result, in recent hours, the 24-year-old footballer has started to be considered expendable by Atlético de Madrid. Yes, he has been put on the transfer list and is no longer a priority for Simeone and company, who have opened the door for his departure from the professional squad in this very transfer window.

Quickly, Benfica, a heavyweight on the European continent, paid special attention to this situation and made a move for someone who also wore the shirts of Atlanta United and Botafogo during his career. In fact, the popular Portuguese team has already opened negotiations to sign him in this transfer market.

Without the funds necessary to complete a permanent transfer, the idea for the Portuguese is to arrange a loan deal with an option to buy. They are doing so with the understanding that Almada also intends to leave Atlético de Madrid as soon as possible, given the bleak outlook he faces.

On another note, it is not insignificant that Benfica already pursued the Fuerte Apache native in the middle of last year. In fact, the Eagles made a formal offer to Lyon to acquire his rights, but the player ended up joining the top tier of Spanish football, where he is currently playing.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.