The future of midfielder Thiago Almada continues to be the focus of attention behind the scenes of the transfer market. Without a definitive decision, the player remains on the radar of Flamengo and River Plate (ARG).
The search for a high-impact reinforcement for the remainder of the 2026 season continues to generate activity at Ninho do Urubu. Despite expectations for a positive outcome, the player’s agent, Agustín Jiménez, confirmed to the press that the midfielder, currently linked to Atlético de Madrid (ESP), has not yet made a final decision on which offer he will accept.
“Thiago has not yet made a decision,” the agent stated, cooling speculations of an imminent announcement. The situation became more complex with River Plate entering the dispute, which created a new chapter in negotiations that initially seemed to be heading towards the Rio de Janeiro club.
José Boto Addresses Negotiations
Flamengo‘s football director, José Boto, was in Argentina last weekend. Upon his return to Brazil early Tuesday morning (04), the director clarified that the trip covered a broad agenda, but he did not fail to address Almada‘s situation. The executive was emphatic in stating that the red-and-black board maintains a strict stance regarding the transfer market.
“The reason for my trip to Argentina was not to convince Almada. He played here for six months and knows Flamengo’s greatness. What I went there to say is that we would not enter into bidding wars. What we agreed upon is what it will be, if he wants to come,”Boto explained in an interview cited by the M360 Team.
Urgency for the Copa Libertadores
Time is Flamengo‘s biggest adversary right now. With the Copa Libertadores round of 16 against Cruzeiro approaching, the club needs to race against Conmebol‘s schedule. The entity requires that the registration or substitution of athletes on the official tournament list be completed by next Saturday (08), at 6 PM (Paraguay time).
Internally, there’s an understanding that the delay by the player’s staff might be linked to an attempt to secure higher financial terms or a wait for offers from European clubs. While a resolution remains pending, the red-and-black management maintains a cautious approach, reinforcing that it will not make investments outside the established standards, regardless of the name under consideration for the remainder of the season.
