Thiago Almada is joining Atlanta United, his club, Velez Sarsfield, tweeted Friday.
Almada is not yet joining Atlanta United, his likely new club responded a few hours later.
Before the talented attacking 20-year-old midfielder joins the MLS club, there are a few questions that should be answered:
What is the status of the investigation into his alleged behavior in Argentina?
Almada and a few teammates were being investigated for alleged crimes of a sexual nature committed at a party more than a year ago. For a long time, nothing could be found about the investigation or if Almada was in fact charged.
The publication Cronica in Buenos Aires, Argentina provided updates this week, reporting that the case is active and that Almada was charged “as part of the protocol against gender violence in Vélez.”
Almada and his attorney previously denied the allegations in October.
According to the report, DNA samples were taken from all individuals involved. The results are scheduled to be known Jan. 15.
That the investigation isn’t resolved may be why Atlanta United tried to put the brakes on the news on the transfer.
Atlanta United President Darren Eales and Vice President Carlos Bocanegra have stressed that the club is about family and filled with people of character and integrity. The club even has a kit designed by Adidas dubbed the “Unity Kit” that is about inclusivity and humanity. Two of the five stripes in its badge represent unity and community.
Bocanegra places great emphasis on chemistry among players in the locker room. The team already has had to weather one alleged incident with a talented young Argentinian.
Almada should be considered not guilty until the investigation is concluded, but this possible signing seems like an odd risk for the club to take.
Does Almada want to play in MLS for Atlanta United?
Almada widely is considered one of the more talented young players in South America. He has 24 goals in 98 appearances as a professional.
He has been watched, but not signed, by several well-known clubs in Europe, including Manchester United and Manchester City.
In several interviews, Almada has expressed his desire to play for a club in Europe.
He still has yet to go on the record with any kind of statement expressing excitement or a desire to play for Atlanta United in MLS.
While past DP Pity Martinez, and some would say Barco, didn’t work out as well as hoped when they joined Atlanta United, both expressed positive vibes about coming to the club and league.
If signed, how will he fit into the roster?
MLS clubs are allowed three Designated Players.
Atlanta United has three DPs: Josef Martinez, Ezequiel Barco and Luiz Araujo.
Because of the reported $16 million transfer fee, it would seem that Almada is coming in as a DP.
To make that happen, Atlanta United would have to either sell one of its DPs, or use Allocation Money to change the status of one of them from a DP into a “regular” player on the roster. None of the three meet the threshold to be bought down, based upon the size of the transfer fees to acquire them and their current salaries.
The club could sell Barco. That has been the plan since he was bought for slightly less than $14 million from Independiente in Argentina before the 2018 season. But to sell the club must have a buyer who has a valuation that is close to what Atlanta United wants. Bocanegra said Wednesday that several clubs have expressed interest in Barco. Bocanegra was asked if an offer has been received. He said he didn’t want to go into those details because it wasn’t fair to the players.
There could be another way to add Almada without the club having to sell one of its three DPs.
MLS has a roster mechanism called the Under-22 Initiative. Each team can have a maximum of three slots if certain criteria are met. Atlanta United’s are filled by Santiago Sosa, Franco Ibarra and Erik Lopez. One of those players either could be moved to the main roster or his contract can be bought down using Allocation Money to change his status from an “U22″ player to a regular player.
For Atlanta United to do that, Almada’s annual salary can’t exceed the maximum salary budget charge of $612,500. In the Under-22 Initiative, the transfer fee, agents fee and other costs of acquisition don’t factor into the budget charge. So the $16 million transfer fee isn’t amortized over the length of the contract, in other words.
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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 vs. Sporting KC, 3 p.m.
March 5 at Colorado, 6 p.m.
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