While Thiago Almada could well join OL this winter, John Textor revealed how he recruited the Argentine World Champion.
Lyon supporters know it… Sooner or later, they will be able to benefit from Thiago Almada who is destined to play for OL. Recruited by John Textor's holding company last summer, the Argentinian World Champion plays for the Lyon boss's other club, Botafogo. Performing well, the attacking midfielder will play in the Copa Libertadores final in the coming weeks… In the process, Thiago Almada should take over the management of Lyon when the Brazilian club's season will be over.
However, it's not too sure anymore. Indeed, several sources claim that Thiago Almada would like to stay in Botafogo in 2025. The situation should be clarified soon, but it is quite possible that OL will have to wait to see the Argentinian fill Pierre Sage's midfield. This November 12, John Textor delivered a long interview to Olé, and the case of Thiago Almada was logically mentioned by the Argentine sports daily.
Textor recruited Almada by “luck”
“I received a call from a friend from Atletico Madrid”
Asked how he spotted the World Champion, John Textor explained that it was a stroke of luck. “I don’t watch MLS. I don't like certain things and I find that this championship does everything to restrict the circulation of talent. How did I decide to recruit Thiago Almada? I got a call from a friend at Atletico Madrid, one of the owners there, who told me he wanted it. That’s how I knew him,” ati first revealed.
“At the beginning I didn't have confidence in his qualities, because even though I saw him on television, I didn't have confidence in the level of MLS. I knew he was 'killing the game' and I saw more and more of him. Quality is quality, whether it's taking a ball to the chest and volleying it back,” added John Textor.
“He knows he can go to Europe when he is ready”
“It doesn't matter if you do it against a 10-year-old child or against Real Madrid. So I started to see some impressive quality in Thiago and I thought it was important to take him to Brazil to test his level. He wanted to be part of our project. He wanted to win championships with Botafogo,” launched the owner of OL before talking about his future.
“He knows he can go to Europe when he is ready, but he really wanted to come to Brazil. And of course, it's wonderful that it's close to home. His family was able to come see him play more easily than they would have in the United States. So it’s a great experience. But that's how we found it. I was lucky, I guess,” concluded the boss of OL and Botafogo which leaves suspense for the future of Thiago Almada…
