Will Atlanta United star Almada stay at the MLS franchise in 2024?

World Cup winner Thiago Almada has excelled for Atlanta United since joining the MLS franchise in 2022, establishing himself as the team’s most important player. Now, after Atlanta’s elimination from the MLS playoffs, the Argentine’s form for the Five Stripes could see him earn a move to European soccer.

Atlanta are “planning on” retaining Almada’s services for the 2024 campaign, says the team’s vice-president and technical director, Carlos Bocanegra – but he has conceded that the 22-year-old could leave if the “right offer” comes in.

“Things change”: Bocanegra on Almada future

“Things change, as you guys know, in the transfer window,” Bocanegra told reporters on Friday. “If [offers] come in December, January, we’ll have that conversation with the player. Does this offer fit? Is this the right place to go?

“But really with Thiago, we’ve created it where if he would like to stay and the right offer doesn’t come and the right club does not come in for him, then he’s okay to stay and he’s happy here. I think that’s great for us.

“We’re planning on him coming back. Things can change. I don’t want to say 100% he’s back because that’s how it works in the global football world. But [he’s a] great kid and at the moment we’re counting on him being part of our group next year.”

Atlanta star up for MLS MVP prize

Almada, who has been capped four times by Argentina, is among the finalists for the 2023 season’s MLS Most Valuable Player award, together with Los Angeles FC’s Dénis Bouanga and FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta.

The attacking midfielder scored 13 goals and supplied 16 assists in 35 regular-season and postseason appearances this term.

Atlanta, who were MLS champions in 2018, were beaten by Columbus Crew in round one of the 2023 playoffs, losing the teams’ best-of-three series 2-1.