Thiago Almada back in training amid Flamengo and River Plate doubt

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Coluna do Fla

·5 August 2026

Thiago Almada back in training amid Flamengo and River Plate doubt

Flamengo is in a ‘saga’ to sign Thiago Almada

Flamengo remain in talks to sign Thiago Almada, an attacking midfielder from Atlético de Madrid (Spain), in this transfer window. While the Rubro-Negro once again faced competition from River Plate (Argentina), the player returned to training this Wednesday (05).

Thiago Almada is enjoying his vacation after the World Cup in Ibiza, Spain. So, on the morning of this Wednesday (05), the Argentine midfielder posted a photo training at the Estádio Municipal de Can Misses.

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What is the status of Flamengo’s negotiations with Thiago Almada?

According to Flamengo football director José Boto, in an interview with journalist Rodrigo Lima from Coluna do Fla, Thiago Almada is still not a Mengão player. It is worth noting that the Portuguese executive was in Argentina to talk with the player’s agent about the timeline for completing the deal.

I didn’t 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 how big Flamengo is. I dealt with several matters there, and one of them was Almada,” said Boto upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro in the early hours of Tuesday (04). “We’re not going to get into bidding wars with other interested clubs, or even with those that aren’t interested but pretend they are, because that’s part of the game. Do you know how many transfers worth 20 million euros or more have happened in the history of 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 ever been involved in transfers at that level,” he added.

Is Flamengo facing competition from River Plate again?

Flamengo had advanced talks with Thiago Almada and was even optimistic about completing the deal for the player. However, River Plate has re-entered the picture and also made an offer to sign the Argentine.

In short, behind the scenes at Flamengo, the understanding is that the delay in finalizing the negotiations is due to a desire to increase the amounts involved. In addition, the midfielder is still waiting for a possible offer from Europe.

Is Flamengo ‘racing against time’ to sign Thiago Almada?

Flamengo expects to sign a contract with Almada later this week. That is because the Rubro-Negro has until 6 p.m. Brasília time on Saturday (08) to send Conmebol the list of players registered for the Copa Libertadores round of 16.

The first match against Cruzeiro will take place next Wednesday (12), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, at Mineirão. Finally, the decisive clash will be the following week, on the 19th, at the same time, at the Maracanã.

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