Why Almada, Flamengo target, did not settle at Atlético de Madrid | OneFootball

Flamengo have opened talks to sign Thiago Almada from Atlético de Madrid. The Argentine did not nail down a place last season and the Spanish club are open to a sale. He is at the World Cup with Argentina and will decide his future after the tournament.

According to Globo.com, Flamengo believe they can fund the deal and are optimistic of convincing Almada, but he wants to stay in Europe and will prioritise clubs there. For now the only formal offer is from River Plate.

Almada played 40 games in 2025/26, scoring four and assisting two, and started only 18 times. He was the 17th most used, totalling 1,705 minutes. In the Champions League knockouts he logged only 34 minutes.

He began well under Diego Simeone, starting three straight La Liga games, then an international break and an Argentina duty injury in early September halted him. Out for about six weeks, he never fully regained Simeone’s trust. From October he scored against Osasuna and Sevilla, yet ended 2025 with five starts.

In 2026 the bright moments were rare, just two goals and one assist, the last in February. A 3-2 defeat at Elche in April summed up his dip, as he conceded a penalty and was sent off. Simeone’s system seldom used two light creators, so Almada slipped into rotation and drew criticism.

Operating off the left suited him, but February signing Ademola Lookman went straight into the XI and overshadowed him.

Source: Globo.com