Al-Ahli has put around 27 million euros on the table for Thiago Almada, with a three-season deal attached, but the midfielder is not ready to move. He will wait until after the World Cup before deciding what comes next.
The timing matters because Atlético de Madrid has already placed Almada on the market, after paying more than 20 million euros for him, and the Saudi offer gives his next step a clear price tag. For Atlético, that kind of figure could help recover the investment and move a deal forward, while for Almada it opens the door to a decision that may come only once the tournament is over.
That is why his name is back in circulation now. One month ago, MARCA reported that his time at Atlético de Madrid seemed numbered, and the latest offer only sharpens the picture. Almada, though, is not treating this as a straight choice between staying and leaving. He wants to stay in Europa, but he does not rule out a possible offer from Arabia, which leaves his future open even as the market around him keeps moving.
There is also more than one lane chasing him. He is drawing interest from Brazilian football, he previously played in Brasil before joining Atlético de Madrid, and River Plate has also made contact. The Saudi offer would have pushed River Plate out of the bidding, which underlines how quickly one number can reset a race that had more than one contender. At the same time, Almada feels important with Lionel Scaloni at the World Cup, and that role is part of why he is willing to hold off on any decision.
The answer, then, is not hard to see: Almada is playing for time because the World Cup matters more to him right now than any contract. Once it ends, the next move is likely to become a choice between Europa, Saudi Arabia and the other interest already circling him.
