A wind of euphoria is blowing over the supporters of Olympique Lyonnais. This winter, the Rhone club is preparing to welcome a prestigious recruit, 2022 world champion. An arrival which could transform the dynamic of a team in search of renewal.
An Argentinian star about to join Lyon
The rumors are confirmed: Thiago Almada, a talented 23-year-old midfielder, should settle down in the Rhône in January. According to the daily L’Equipe, it’s almost done. After shining at Botafogo, where he won the Copa Libertadores, the Argentine expressed his wish to join Europe, in accordance with the agreement made during his transfer from Atlanta last summer.
“I want to respect the commitment made upon my arrival: to stay six months before leaving for Lyon”,
he confided after his last match with the Brazilian club. Despite the financial uncertainties surrounding OL, Almada announced on ESPN that he would be in the Rhône from January 5.
Technical and ambitious reinforcement
Pierre Sage, member of the Lyon staff, remains cautious about making the arrival official. However, he does not hide his enthusiasm at the profile of this player, described as a mix between Rayan Cherki and Saïd Benrahma: “ He would bring a technical touch and real mastery to our game.”
Pierre Sage can be happy with OL’s efforts.
Despite modest statistics (3 goals and 2 assists in 24 matches with Botafogo), Thiago Almada is seen as a valuable reinforcement for an OL in search of identity. His arrival could, however, raise questions at the administrative level, particularly on the management of extra-community players.
A Lyon transfer window under high tension
While OL struggles with the constraints of the DNCG, the arrival of Almada could be in the form of an initial loan. This masterstroke by John Textor, owner of the club, marks a clear ambition: to reposition Lyon as a stronghold of European football. The suspense remains, but one thing is certain: winter will be lively in the capital of Gaul.
