Overview
- River completed the transfer and presented Thiago Almada after he arrived in Argentina and started training with the squad, which sources say took place on Monday.
- Almada signed a multi-year deal running through December 31, 2030, and reports say Atlético de Madrid will receive about €20 million for the transfer, a figure presented as a record-level fee for Argentine football.
- Coach Eduardo Coudet plans to use Almada as a left-sided attacking playmaker in systems such as a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-3-2, with staff discussing how he will combine with Ángel Correa and the club’s forwards.
- The signing arrives as River struggle in domestic competition with consecutive defeats and a goal drought, and the postponed Copa Sudamericana tie with Independiente Santa Fe gives Almada extra time to prepare and be registered for the knockout stage.
- Media reported that AFA president Claudio Tapia tried to steer Almada toward Boca, a claim that created upset inside River, but Almada publicly denied any intervention and said Tapia did not influence his decision.