ARSENAL’s top South American scout wishes the club had listened to him about signing Argentinian playmaker Thiago Almada.
Almada joined Atletico Madrid in the summer and looks set to star for the reigning champions at next year’s World Cup after nailing down a place in Lionel Scaloni’s best XI.
The Spanish giants pounced when Diego Simeone saw exactly what Gunners scout Jonathan Vidalle spotted in the fleet-footed former Botafogo player years ago.
But Vidalle met resistance within Arsenal to his recommendation because the feeling was that Almada couldn’t hack the physicality of the Premier League.
The Arsenal talent-spotter is currently on the lookout for the next generation of wonderkids at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile and told a local radio station of his biggest regret as a scout.
“Thiago Almada — I’ve always insisted on him, I’ve always liked him, but he has a physical weakness, especially for the Premier League,” he said.
“I’ve done 56 reports on him because I’ve known him since he played in the eighth division, that is, in the U-15s.”
Almada came through the youth ranks at Velez Sarsfield and broke into their first team under Gabriel Heinze, who is now Mikel Arteta’s assistant at the Emirates.
He impressed at the Under-20 World Cup in Poland six years ago and agreed to follow in Heinze’s footsteps to Atlanta United in 2021, only for the Argentine coach to be fired before he officially joined.
Although he only got on the pitch for six minutes of Argentina’s glorious World Cup campaign, his club career took off in 2022 as he won the MLS Newcomer of the Year award before Botafogo came calling in 2024.
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In just six months at the club, he helped Botafogo win the Brazilian title and the Copa Libertadores as a move to Europe beckoned.
Lyon completed a deal with their Sao Paulo sister club to take the 24-year-old on loan for the second half of last season and he again excelled, leading to Atletico Madrid’s move.
No official figures for the transfer were released, but Botafogo could be set to cash in again via a sell-on clause after Almada quickly established himself as a key player for Simeone’s side.
Vidalle says he remains a fan of the tricky Argentine ace, who can play on either flank or deeper in midfield.
“Sometimes it’s a little frustrating when a player you scout ends up playing for another club, succeeding, and well, those are the rules of the game, maybe it would have worked out,” he told ADN Deportes.
“The Premier League is difficult because it’s very physical. And another thing that’s crucial today is the mentality of the kids.
“Today’s footballers are athletes with technique, especially at the level where we work, right?
“I’m talking about the top five leagues in Europe, the most important teams in the world.
“It’s essential to have a very good physique, except in some positions where you make up for it with intelligence, decision-making, high technique, and good reading of the game.”
