Thiago Almada chooses River Plate, Flamengo lose out despite bigger offer | OneFootball

River Plate have signed 2022 World Cup winner Thiago Almada, who joins on a deal until 31 December 2030, ending Flamengo’s chase. The club said in a post that the 25-year-old completed his move on Monday.

Atlético de Madrid accepted a R$ 128 million offer from River, which was R$ 20 million less than Flamengo’s bid, despite the Brazilian club having reached a verbal agreement at one stage.

The fee makes Almada the most expensive signing in Argentine football history. He departs Atlético after a single season and did not establish himself as a starter under Diego Simeone.

During the World Cup, Flamengo reached a verbal agreement as Almada initially prioritised a move within Europe. Even so, his family’s wish to remain in Argentina carried more weight.

Without Almada, Flamengo turned to Luiz Henrique, but that pursuit also collapsed, and he will remain at Zenit.

Flamengo face Cruzeiro in the Libertadores last-16 first leg on Wednesday 12 at 21:30 Brasília time, at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte. Rede Globo will broadcast the match on free-to-air television.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

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