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'They were all instrumental' - Almada reveals Di Maria and Otamendi's role in River Plate transfer from Atletico Madrid

Thiago Almada has now officially sealed his much-talked-about return to Argentine football, completing a move to River Plate in a transfer that marks a major development in the South American market. The World Cup-winning midfielder arrives as a headline signing, with the club expecting him to help revive a team going through a difficult phase under Eduardo Coudet.

The influence of Coudet and senior stars

Almada has spoken about the key reasons behind his decision to return to Argentina, especially pointing to the direct role played by head coach Coudet. Even though other major clubs in the continent were interested, including a financially attractive proposal from Brazilian side Flamengo, the appeal of River's project at the Estadio Mas Monumental was too strong for the former Velez Sarsfield player to ignore.

In an interview with Ole, Almada made it clear that the influence of senior figures in the dressing room was important in shaping his decision. "Coudet called me, and that was massive," the midfielder said.

"I was constantly in touch with him, and also with Nico Otamendi and Angel Di Maria after he joined. They were all instrumental in the move. My family, my wife, my parents... we all reached this decision together." Explaining how the transfer gathered speed during his summer holiday, he added: "I made my mind up while on holiday. It was down to my conversations with Coudet and the ambition of the project here. From that moment, I never had a second thought."

A record-breaking investment for El Millonario

River Plate's board has shown huge belief in Almada by approving a club-record financial package, worth a staggering €20m, to secure 100 per cent of his registration and complete his signing from Atletico Madrid. The scale of that investment underlines the club's determination to narrow the gap with European standards, something Almada also reflected on during his first few days at the River Camp training base.

Almada has arrived at a moment when the side is struggling to find consistency on the pitch, but he is convinced the talent already in the squad will eventually come through. "I know exactly where I am and what River represents; the fans expect nothing less than excellence. I've come here to play my part and help us navigate this difficult period. With the quality we have in this squad, I have no doubt we will turn things around," he said.

Reflections on international success and family ties

Away from club football, Almada remains an important part of the Argentina national team picture, and he looked back on the 2026 World Cup, where La Albiceleste ended the tournament as runners-up. He said he was able to "squeeze every last drop out of it", enjoying the atmosphere within the squad and spending time with team-mates such as Exequiel Palacios and Nicolas Otamendi.

The emotional side of the transfer also came through when Almada disclosed who got his first match-worn shirt. "The first shirt I gave away was to my mum - she's a massive River fan," he said with a smile.

The midfielder is already preparing for a huge family turnout at the stadium, joking about the challenge of sorting out tickets for his return. "I already need to start sorting tickets for Sunday. We're a big group... I'm not sure if it's more than 50 yet!"

Immediate challenges and tactical integration

As he settles into Coudet's tactical system, Almada is concentrating on getting back to his best physical level after a period of transition between Madrid and Buenos Aires. The postponement of a recent match has given the playmaker useful extra time to build understanding with his new team-mates and adapt to the specific demands of the "Coudet" setup.

"I'm training hard and doing everything I can for the group," the midfielder said. "The postponed match actually worked in my favor; I'm finding my rhythm with the ball again and feeling good."

Looking ahead, he remains positive about the influence he can have at El Monumental: "I'm treating this as a massive challenge. I know the level of expectation and excitement surrounding River, and I'm approaching this with the same mindset I had when I went to Brazil."