Amid intense negotiations, Thiago Almada resumes training in Spain as Flamengo tries to fend off interest from River Plate before the Copa Libertadores deadline.
The saga surrounding Thiago Almada‘s potential move to Flamengo gained a new chapter this Wednesday (05). While the future of the midfielder—currently under contract with Atlético de Madrid—remains uncertain, the player was spotted training at the Estádio Municipal de Can Misses in Ibiza, where he is currently on vacation following the World Cup.
The image, shared by the player himself on his social media, comes at a time when the Rubro-Negro sees River Plate renewing their interest in the Argentine. The battle for Almada‘s signature has been a major talking point in South American football during this transfer window.
Flamengo’s official stance
In an interview with the M360 Team, Flamengo‘s director of football, José Boto, was emphatic regarding the club’s approach to the negotiations, ruling out any possibility of participating in “bidding wars” to secure the signing. He stated:
“We will not enter into bidding wars with other interested clubs, nor with those who are not actually interested, though it is part of the game for them to pretend they are.”
The director reiterated that the player is well aware of the stature of Flamengo and that the board remains focused on strengthening the squad with financial responsibility.
Race against time
Time is Flamengo‘s biggest opponent right now. The club must finalize the signing of Thiago Almada by this Saturday (08) at 6:00 PM (Brasília time). This is the final deadline set by CONMEBOL for player registration for the Libertadores Round of 16.
Flamengo‘s next commitment in the continental competition is a decisive clash against Cruzeiro. The first leg will be held on August 12 at the Mineirão, while the return leg is scheduled for August 19 at the Maracanã. The expectation is that the conclusion of the negotiations will occur in the coming days, determining whether the midfielder will join Tite‘s squad for the remainder of the season.
M360 Team
