The MLS has become quite a hotspot for young South American talent in recent years, with players such as Ezequiel Barco, Santiago Sosa, and Brenner all making the move from their respective Southern leagues.
Another player set to make the jump, from the Argentine Primera Division, is Velez Sarsfield’s Thiago Almada, who is on the verge of moving to Atlanta United, the 2018 MLS Cup Champions.
The attacking midfielder has arguably been Velez’s best player for multiple seasons now and could be a huge coup for the Georgia-based club.
The Argentine made his debut for Velez back in 2018 and was even included in The Guardian’s ‘Next Generation’ list for 2018.
The 20-year-old has been linked with moves to top European clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, so it can be seen as quite a surprise that Atlanta United managed to pique his interest.
Regardless, it is a very exciting move for both parties and one to watch for the remainder of the MLS season.
This will be a tactical analysis piece in the form of a scout report of Almada.
It will be an analysis of the player’s strengths and weaknesses as well as taking a look at where he could fit Atlantas tactics and even how he compares with the other midfield players.
Thiago Almada Player profile and market value
The young Argentinian star stands at 5’7’’ (171cm) and weighs precisely 62kg (136lbs), so of course, Almada has quite a small frame, which gives him a low centre of gravity in possession and helps him to receive in tight spaces before playing or dribbling out of pressure.
Almada may not come across admirably in data visuals, but the player possesses immense quality and is the most valuable player in the division under the age of 24.
In fact, Almada is the most valuable player in the entire division, according to Transfermarkt, which values the player at €20 million, with Nicolas De La Cruz in second place at a valuation of €18 million.
The attacker plays in a number of key positions in the midfield.
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