Almada, World Cup winner by chance and the new Atlético dribbler: "When they told me I was coming to Atlético, I didn't hesitate."

At just 21 years old, he found himself alongside Leo Messi lifting the World Cup in Qatar 2022. A dream for any Argentine footballer and even more so if your natural position is that of one of the best in the history of the albiceleste, although he fell off the rebound after Joaquín Correa 's injury.

But at the club level, Thiago Almada 's career has certainly been strange, moving from Vélez Sarsfield to the MLS and then to Botafogo in Brazil, with a brief loan spell in Ligue 1. "It was my dream to play for Atlético. I chose it because I have a lot of affection for it and I had many friends who played here. When they told me to come, I didn't hesitate," the Argentine said at his presentation this Tuesday at the Metropolitano.

Almada was one of those lightning-fast signings from Carlos Bucero 's office. He wasn't initially considered for the summer, although his name had always been in the Atlético de Madrid spotlight after the Club World Cup. However, when his name started to be mentioned after the Club World Cup, the Argentine was already flying to Madrid to sign his five-year contract with the Colchoneros. He won't be 30 yet when that contract expires, which gives an idea of the youthful nature of the Atlético de Madrid sporting directors' desire to renew Cholo 's squad.

A new Argentine has joined the Atlético Madrid club, although Correa , one of the players most strongly recommended for him to sign, and perhaps Nahuel Molina have either left or will leave briefly. "You come to a club like Atlético de Madrid where many of your compatriots have defended the shirt with pride and heart," Enrique Cerezo told him at the presentation. He took up the challenge and admitted that "unity also does a lot to defend us on the field."

Thanks to his "talent and versatility," as Cerezo praised him, Alamada joins an attacking front line that has added significant talent with the arrival of Baena. "I can play in any position up front, but I like playing on the left and inside," admitted the player, who thanks the president and his teammates for welcoming him in the "best way."

The Argentine's future number 11, as could be seen at the presentation event, is "very happy" to have joined "one of the biggest clubs" and to have the project he has, especially for the future, given that five of the six new signings this July are players under the age of 24. "Several very young reinforcements, very happy to be here and with the ambition to achieve things and make the club's history," the player admitted.