Thiago Almada Is Moving to River Plate After the World Cup

What Is the Big News?

• Thiago Almada, an Argentine soccer player who represents his national team, will join River Plate (a team based in Buenos Aires) once the current World Cup is over.
• He will leave Atlético (a Spanish team also called Atlético Madrid), where he did not succeed during the past season.

How the Transfer Happened

According to an Argentine sports newspaper called Olé, here is how the move came together:

1. The leaders (bosses) of both Atlético and River Plate met in recent hours and agreed on the whole deal.
2. Almada himself also gave the green light ("OK") for the transfer.
3. River Plate will pay 20 million euros to get 50% of Almada’s "pass" (this means they buy half of the rights to the player, like owning half of his contract).
4. Right now, Almada is playing in the World Cup with Argentina and is a starter (a player who begins the match) under coach Scaloni.

Important Point: Almada was not in the plans of Atlético’s coach, nicknamed "Cholo" Simeone, for the new season. The team’s sports management had already expected his departure.

Why He Is Leaving Atlético

• Almada is 25 years old and had a contract with the red‑and‑white club (Atlético) that ran until the year 2030.
• His "market value" (how much he is estimated to be worth) is about 15 million euros.
• His last season was not good:
  • He played 40 official matches.
  • He scored only 4 goals.
  • He was never a key player for Coach Cholo and did not have a standout role in the team.

A Bit of Background

• Almada joined Atlético last summer from a Brazilian club called Botafogo. It was seen as a big market opportunity.
• Botafogo might also receive some money from this transfer to River Plate.
• Back in Argentina, Almada is a player with a very good market (many teams and fans want him, so he is valued highly there).

Summary

Thiago Almada, a 25‑year‑old Argentine footballer, will move from Atlético Madrid to River Plate after the World Cup ends. River Plate will pay 20 million euros for half of his playing rights. He had a poor season at Atlético and was not wanted by the coach for the new campaign. At the same time, he is currently a starting player for Argentina in the World Cup. The switch makes sense because he remains popular and in demand in his home country.

FAQ

Who is Thiago Almada?

He is an Argentine soccer player, age 25, who plays for the Argentine national team and was previously at Atlético Madrid.

When will he actually join River Plate?

He will join them as soon as the ongoing World Cup finishes.

How much did River Plate pay for him?

They agreed to pay 20 million euros to acquire 50% of his transfer rights (half‑ownership of his contract).

Why did Atlético let him go?

The coach (Cholo Simeone) did not plan to use him in the new season, and Almada’s performance last year was weak, so the club expected him to leave.

Will his old club Botafogo get any money?

Yes, because Atlético bought him from Botafogo last summer, that Brazilian club could receive a portion of the fee from this move to River Plate.