PAMPLONA — Thiago Almada is very likely to depart Atlético de Madrid following a difficult debut season, and River Plate is actively pursuing his transfer. The Argentine club is working to trim its payroll to facilitate a deal for the 23-year-old as soon as possible.
Almada joined Atlético de Madrid less than a year ago in a €21 million deal that secured 50 percent of his federative rights from the Eagle Football Group. However, his time in Madrid has been marked by inconsistency and difficulty adapting to the physical demands of elite European football. A muscle injury in September further disrupted his integration, knocking him out of the starting lineup for an extended period.
Across 27 LaLiga appearances—16 of them starts—Almada recorded three goals and one assist. He added one goal and one assist during Atlético’s run to the Copa del Rey final, including setting up Julián Alvarez’s equalizer in the penalty shootout loss to Real Sociedad.
River Plate’s interest has intensified in recent weeks. The club’s front office, represented by Enzo Francescoli and Pablo Longoria, has held discussions with Almada’s agent, Agustín Jiménez, about a potential return to Argentine football.
River Plate hopes to complete a transfer before a strong performance at the upcoming World Cup potentially elevates his market value. Atlético de Madrid’s asking price for its 50 percent stake exceeds €17 million, a fee that would constitute River Plate’s largest-ever incoming transfer if agreed upon.
Other clubs have shown interest: Palmeiras made an approach in January, though it did not yield a move. River Plate, which recently signed Nicolás Otamendi on a free transfer, views Almada as a marquee addition. For now, his future appears increasingly tied to a return to Buenos Aires.