ATLANTA, GEORGIA—In the 2022 Major League Soccer season, Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada is considered the top young player in the league.
Almada who is recently acquired by Atlanta United FC from Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield of the Argentine first division is ranked number 1 in the 2022 MLS season top 10 young players.
Almada is considered as the real deal, fans may just need to give him some time.
Scouts consider him as a magician on the ball and a master artist who creates chances for those around him.
Earlier, United FC head coach Orlando Pineda hopes to integrate Almada into the system of the team at the soonest possible time.
“I think whenever Thiago is ready to go,” Pineda said.
“Obviously, we’re going to integrate him progressively also on the fitness side because we have to make sure that he’s healthy and fit for the rest of the season. So no rush, honestly. But at the same time, we are excited to see him on the field and connecting with the fans and all that. So, as soon as possible is my answer,” Pineda added.
Pineda said Almada is a dynamic playmaker with an attacking mindset.
“He’s very good at arriving inside the box, so we think that we’re going to have a lot more presence inside the box with him,” he said.
United FC earlier signed Almada to a contract through 2025.
On its official website, United FC revealed Almada will be a Designated Player and occupy an international roster spot pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
“After an extensive and in-depth due diligence process, we have exercised our exclusive option to permanently transfer in Thiago,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said.
“He’s a player we’ve been tracking for a long time and he’s shown that he’s one of the best young players in South America over the past few seasons. We feel that his abilities fit well with the kind of attacking soccer that we want to play at Atlanta United and we’re confident that he will be able to play at a high level in Major League Soccer,” Bocanegra added.
Almada, 20, recorded 24 goals and 11 assists in 100 matches for Vélez Sarsfield across all competitions. After passing through the club’s youth ranks, the Ciudadela, Argentina native made his professional debut at the age of 17 in a league match against Newell’s Old Boys on Aug. 11, 2018. He made 21 appearances in all competitions during the 2018-2019 season, including 16 in league play, scoring four goals and adding two assists. Almada then made 41 appearances in 2019-2020 and recorded 11 goals and three assists, including four goals and an assist in 22 Liga Profesional matches and four goals and an assist in eight appearances in the Copa Sudamericana.
Last season, Almada made 38 total appearances and tallied nine goals and six assists. He made 32 combined appearances in the Liga Profesional and the Copa de la Liga and scored seven goals with six assists. He also scored two goals in six Copa Libertadores matches as Vélez Sarsfield advanced to the Round of 16 of the competition.
