Thiago Almada is on the verge of completing a move to Flamengo from Atletico Madrid. Personal terms between the Argentine midfielder and the Brazilian club have been agreed, while negotiations between the two sides have entered their final phase, according to Diario AS.
The transfer would see Atletico recoup approximately €27 million (£23m) on a player they signed just twelve months ago from Lyon for €20 million. That initial deal secured only 50 per cent of Almada’s federative rights, yet the Spanish club now stand to turn a profit despite the player’s struggles to establish himself at the Metropolitano.
Deal Structure and Timeline
Flamengo have secured Atletico’s authorisation to negotiate directly with Almada’s representatives, a clear indication that the Madrid club favour a sale over retaining the 23-year-old. The contract on offer runs for four seasons, keeping the World Cup winner in Rio de Janeiro until 2030.
Brazilian journalist Raisa Simplicio reports that Almada’s camp are expected to fly to Rio de Janeiro by the end of this week to finalise arrangements. The visit represents the next concrete milestone in a deal that Flamengo coach Leonardo Jardim has personally championed.
According to journalist Matteo Moretto, the agreement between the clubs is on the point of collapse—working in Almada’s favour to force the move through rather than signalling any breakdown in negotiations. The remaining sticking point centres on the payment structure, though Diario AS suggests this is unlikely to derail the transfer.
Atletico’s Summer Strategy
The departure forms part of Atletico’s broader summer sell-off strategy. Sporting director Mateo Alemany initially set Almada’s exit price at €20 million to recover the club’s original investment, but Flamengo’s persistence has driven the fee upwards to around €27 million (approximately $30 million).
Atletico had already marked Almada as a sellable asset prior to the World Cup, concerned that his market value would erode further after a season where he failed to translate his Ligue 1 form into consistent La Liga performances. The club’s willingness to move him on contrasts with their hardline stance on retaining other key players this summer, underscoring his peripheral status in Diego Simeone’s squad.
For Flamengo, the capture would represent another statement of intent following the high-profile return of Lucas Paquetá earlier this year. With no rival bids reported and both parties motivated to conclude proceedings, formal confirmation could arrive shortly after Almada’s representatives complete their visit to Brazil.