Atletico Madrid have accomplished their third signing of the summer season switch window, with Thiago Almada becoming a member of from Botafogo.
It has been a busy few weeks for Atleti, who wrapped up offers for Alex Baena and Matteo Ruggeri earlier within the month. Johnny Cardoso can also be set to hitch within the very close to future, however on prime of this, they’ve now signed Almada, whom they’ve solely made a severe transfer for in the previous few days.
The 24-year-old, who was on mortgage at Lyon final season, has agreed a five-year contract with Atleti, who confirmed the deal on Tuesday.
“Atlético de Madrid and Botafogo F.R. have agreed the switch of 24-year-old Argentine worldwide Thiago Almada, who will journey to Madrid to endure the corresponding medical and, subsequently, signal his contract to formalize the settlement.”
Almada – the Angel Correa alternative?
As per Matteo Moretto, Atleti pays €21m for 50% of Almada’s rights, though there may very well be clauses that enable the membership to buy to regularly take away the sell-on clause that Botafogo have retained as a part of this settlement.
Almada arrives on the RiyadhAir Metropolitano to bolster an already-strong Argentine contingent, which incorporates Diego Simeone, his son Giuliano, and Julian Alvarez. Nevertheless, his signing is a quite complicated one on the face it, on condition that Atleti have already introduced in Baena, who has an analogous profile.
On this regard, it may very well be that Almada is seen as extra of a alternative for Angel Correa, who left Atleti earlier within the month to hitch Tigres. He’s able to taking part in off the striker, which might imply that Simeone operates a 4-4-1-1 quite than a 4-4-2 when he’s on the pitch.
Extra enterprise deliberate on the RiyadhAir Metropolitano
In addition to Almada and Cardoso, Atleti are hoping to signal a brand new central defender. They’re now not planning to signal Cristian Romero, and with this cope with Botafogo having been accomplished, there may very well be much less cash obtainable to signal a prime centre-back.