Thiago Almada to River: total agreement with Atlético de Madrid and the world champion arrives for a record fee

- The Núñez club will pay 20 million euros for half of the former Vélez player's rights. - They beat Flamengo to the punch, making it the most expensive transfer in Argentine football history. - Coudet's team continues to strengthen, having invested 67 million dollars solely in new signings.

Thiago Almada to River: total agreement with Atlético de Madrid and the world champion arrives for a record fee Thiago did not adapt to Atlético and returns to Argentina. Photo: EFE / Sergio Pérez.

Maximiliano Benozzi Maximiliano \ \ Benozzi

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06/08/2026 08:43/ Updated on 06/08/2026 08:52

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Aug 6, 2026

Thiago Almada to River: total agreement with Atlético de Madrid and the world champion arrives for a record fee

SUMMARY 26s (Full reading 129s)

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Thiago did not adapt to Atlético and returns to Argentina. Photo: EFE / Sergio Pérez.
Correa and Thiago Almada made it to the Qatar World Cup at the last minute and reunite at River. Photo: Instagram
Thiago and Otamendi, one of those who pushed to convince him to play for River. Photo: Reuters / Jerome Miron.

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Other analyses (Experimental)

BULLET POINTS Information ordered chronologically or logically

1. Thiago Almada reaches agreement with River Plate

Original Text:“River reached a total agreement with Atlético Madrid for Thiago Almada, so the Núñez club will add another world champion to its squad.”

2. River will pay 20 million euros for 50% of Almada's rights

Original Text:“For the 25-year-old player born in Fuerte Apache, the institution will pay 20 million euros for 50 percent of the transfer rights and it will be the most expensive purchase in the history of Argentine football.”

3. Almada decides to return to Argentina and rejects Flamengo's offer

Original Text:“The offer from Flamengo, which had appeared in the middle and had offered 30 million euros, was no longer valid because the player's decision, after not having enticing offers from Europe, was to return to Argentina and not to Brazil.”

4. Almada is on vacation in Ibiza

Original Text:“Almada was on vacation in Ibiza, after having played in the Canada, Mexico and United States 2026 World Cup with the Argentine National Team.”

5. Almada travels to Madrid to sign his departure from Atlético de Madrid

Original Text:“And now he is in Madrid, where he traveled to sign his departure from the Colchonero.”

6. Almada has little prominence at Atlético de Madrid

Original Text:“Almada has had little prominence at Atlético de Madrid during the first part of 2026.”

7. Almada is called up for the World Cup and starts in three matches

Original Text:“Lionel Scaloni called him up for the World Cup, where he started in three matches for the Argentine national team, which finished as runner-up after losing the final against Spain.”

8. Almada was part of the world champion squad in Qatar 2022

Original Text:“The former Vélez player had already been part of the world champion squad in Qatar 2022, joining at the end of the list.”

9. River adds its ninth reinforcement in the transfer market

Original Text:“In this way, River adds its ninth reinforcement in a transfer market that will see them disburse a figure close to 67 million dollars in transfer fees, not including salaries.”

10. Almada will reunite with other players with whom he was world champion in Qatar

Original Text:“Now, he will come to River and reunite with other Correas, Otamendi and Montiel, with whom he was world champion in Qatar.”

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HIGHLIGHTS Direct quotes, testimonies, and statements

Unknown source: Thiago Almada had already said yes to River.

Unknown source: Thiago Almada has had little prominence at Atlético de Madrid during the first part of 2026.

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DATA Table with figures extracted from the original

Thiago Almada transfer details


Description	Value
Millions of euros River will pay for 50 percent of Almada's rights, making it the most expensive purchase in Argentine football history	20
Millions of euros Flamengo had offered for Almada	30
Thiago Almada's age	25

Thiago Almada's career


Description	Value
Year Almada played for Botafogo and won the Copa América	2024
Official matches played by Almada for Atlético de Madrid during the first half of 2026	40
Matches in which Almada started for Atlético de Madrid during the first half of 2026	18
Goals scored by Almada for Atlético de Madrid during the first half of 2026	4
Assists provided by Almada for Atlético de Madrid during the first half of 2026	2
Year Almada was part of the world champion squad in Qatar	2022

River's investments in the transfer market


Description	Value
Millions of dollars River will disburse in transfer fees	67
Reinforcements River has added in this transfer market	9

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FAQ Information as frequently asked questions

1. How much will River pay for 50% of Thiago Almada's rights?

River will pay 20 million euros for 50% of Thiago Almada's rights.

2. Why did Thiago Almada reject Flamengo's offer?

Thiago Almada rejected Flamengo's offer because his decision was to return to Argentina and not to Brazil.

3. Where was Thiago Almada on vacation before traveling to Madrid?

Thiago Almada was on vacation in Ibiza before traveling to Madrid.

4. Who are the members of the Scaloneta with whom Thiago Almada shared holidays?

Thiago Almada shared holidays with Enzo Fernández, Julián Alvarez, and Lisandro Martínez.

5. Why did Diego Simeone no longer have Thiago Almada among his priorities?

Diego Simeone no longer had Thiago Almada among his priorities because he did not have much prominence in the team.

6. In which international tournaments did Thiago Almada participate with the Argentine National Team?

Thiago Almada participated in the Canada, Mexico and United States 2026 World Cup, the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Paris Olympic Games, and the 2024 Copa América.

7. How many official matches did Thiago Almada play for Atlético de Madrid?

Thiago Almada played 40 official matches for Atlético de Madrid.

8. How many reinforcements has River added in this transfer market?

River has added nine reinforcements in this transfer market.

9. Who is the coach of the River team?

The coach of the River team is Eduardo Coudet.

10. With whom will Thiago Almada reunite upon arriving at River?

Thiago Almada will reunite with other Correas, Otamendi, and Montiel upon arriving at River.

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GLOSSARY List of terms

Keywords


Word	Meaning
Atlético de Madrid	Spanish football club based in Madrid.
Fichajes	Signings of players for a football team.
Mundial	International football tournament.
Plantel	Squad of players in a football team.
Revisión médica	Medical examination performed on a player before joining a team.
River	Argentine football club based in Buenos Aires.

Technical terms


Word	Meaning
Convocar	To call up a player to be part of a team or national squad.
Lesiones	Physical injuries suffered by a player during sports practice.
Ofertas	Economic proposals for the acquisition of a player.
Titular	Player who is part of the starting lineup in a football match.

Acronyms and abbreviations


Word	Meaning
Copa América	South American football tournament.
Copa Libertadores	South American football tournament.
Juegos Olímpicos	International sporting event in which athletes from different countries participate.
Mundial	International football tournament.
Sub-23	Selection of players under 23 years old.

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River reached a total agreement with Atlético Madrid for Thiago Almada, meaning the Núñez club will add a new world champion to its squad. For the 25-year-old player born in Fuerte Apache, the institution will pay 20 million euros for 50 percent of the transfer rights and it will be the most expensive purchase in the history of Argentine football.

As Clarín reported this Monday, Almada had already given his approval to River. The offer from Flamengo, which had emerged and offered 30 million euros, was no longer relevant because the player's decision, after not having enticing offers from Europe, was to return to Argentina and not to Brazil, where he had a spell in 2024 with Botafogo, with whom he won the Copa América, precisely at the Monumental.

Once all contractual details are resolved, Almada will embark for Buenos Aires, where he is expected between the weekend and Monday for his medical examination, to sign his contract, and join the squad led by Eduardo Coudet. With Almada, River already had everything agreed upon, and he will be the highest-paid player on the squad.

Almada was on vacation in Ibiza, after having played in the Canada, Mexico and United States 2026 World Cup with the Argentine National Team. There, he spent a few days with three other members of the Scaloneta: Enzo Fernández, Julián Alvarez, and Lisandro Martínez. He cleared his mind there and evaluated the proposals on the table, deciding on River. And now he is in Madrid, where he traveled to sign his departure from the Colchonero.

Correa and Thiago Almada made it to the Qatar World Cup at the last minute and reunite at River. Photo: Instagram

Almada has had little prominence at Atlético de Madrid during the first part of 2026. Although he played 40 official matches, he started in just 18, scored four goals, and provided two assists.

Diego Simeone no longer had him among his priorities. Even so, Lionel Scaloni called him up for the World Cup, where he started in three matches for the Argentine national team, which finished as runner-up after losing the final against Spain.

Thiago and Otamendi, one of those who pushed to convince him to play for River. Photo: Reuters / Jerome Miron.

The former Vélez player had already been part of the world champion squad in Qatar 2022, joining at the end of the list along with Ángel Correa due to injuries to Nicolás González and Joaquín Correa. He then did not participate in the 2024 Copa América, although he was part of the U-23 National Team that competed in the Paris Olympic Games. In the same year, as mentioned above, he also won the Copa Libertadores with Botafogo. He later had a six-month spell at Lyon before being acquired by Atlético de Madrid.

In this way, River adds its ninth reinforcement in a transfer window that will see them disburse a figure close to 67 million dollars in transfer fees, not including salaries.

Now, he will come to River and reunite with other Correa, Otamendi and Montiel, with whom he was world champion in Qatar. He will also seek to return to his best form and give a quality boost to Coudet's team, which needs it very much.

About the author

Maximiliano Benozzi

Sports section writer mbenozzi@clarin.com

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