Eagle Football Group makes $20 million offer for Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada

Atlanta United is in advanced talks with Eagle Football Holdings to sell midfielder Thiago Almada, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Eagle Football is owned by American John Textor and has stakes in Brazilian club Botafogo, Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon, Belgian RWD Molenbeek and Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Argentine journalist Cesar Merlo first reported that Atlanta United were weighing a $20m (£15.8m) bid for playmaker Almada.

If Atlanta accepts the offer, it is likely that Almada will first join Botafogo before joining one of Eagle Football’s European teams. Atlanta United declined to comment.

A person close to the negotiations said Athleticism that Almada is not yet convinced about a possible move to Brazil. He has remained adamant that playing in Europe is his ultimate goal, telling Argentina’s TyC Sports last week that he is enjoying his time in Atlanta but “I have a desire to play in Europe in the top leagues.”

Almada, 23, was signed in 2022 for $16 million by Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield and is under contract with Atlanta United until December 2026.

He was an MVP candidate last season after scoring 11 goals and adding 19 assists. At the time, Atlanta United CEO Garth Lagerwey said Almada “deserved” a record transfer. The current MLS record is Atlanta United sending Miguel Almiron to Newcastle United for $27 million in 2019.

“I can’t control what other teams offer us, but do I think he deserves a record transfer? I do,” Lagerwey said Athleticism Last September. “I think there are objective numbers to support that.”

Almada joined Atlanta in 2022 (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

But since then, Almada has not performed at the same level. His decline in form has coincided with Atlanta United’s struggles this current season. Almada has scored five goals and provided two assists in 16 games. The 2018 MLS Cup champions fired head coach Gonzalo Pineda on June 3 following the club’s fifth straight home loss to Charlotte FC. Since then, they have drawn twice and won once and now sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

Almada is no longer in position to break the MLS outgoing transfer record, but a strong performance at the Paris Summer Olympics could potentially increase his value. Almada captained the Argentina U-23 team throughout Olympic qualifying and will be key to Javier Mascherano’s side.

However, it would be a gamble for Atlanta United to place all their chips on Almada who shines at the Olympic tournament. The pressure on the player to prove to European scouts that he is a profitable investment will also be significant.

There is also notable time pressure for the Atlanta United front office: the Olympics begin July 26 and end Aug. 11, with the MLS summer transfer window closing three days later. Atlanta United is expected to receive and agree to a transfer for Almada and sign a replacement within that time frame.

Almada’s player profile is another obstacle. He is very talented with a fast pace and impressive dribbling ability; a player who can hit the ball accurately both off the dribble and from a set piece. But his slight frame has raised questions about whether or not he can play in some of Europe’s most physical leagues. If the Premier League and Bundesliga aren’t viable options, for example, the number of teams that can pay more than $25 million for Almada is much more limited.

(Top photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)