MLS star Thiago Almada ‘is a target for Manchester United and City’ – and Lionel Messi is a BIG fan

Argentina World Cup winner and MLS star Thiago Almada is attracting interest from the two Premier League heavyweight teams in Manchester, according to reports in his home country.

The Atlanta United midfielder has been outstanding in Major League Soccer this season, scoring eight goals and providing as many assists in 18 appearances.

The  22-year-old was part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning team but made only one appearance off the bench in Qatar. Overall he has four caps and a goal at international level.

The claims linking him to the Premier League come from Argentine journalist Bruno Gonzalez Garcia, who claims both City and United have made contact with Atlanta over a potential transfer.

Almada is widely considered as one of, if the not the best, player in MLS as it stands – albeit until his Argentina teammate Lionel Messi arrives at Inter Miami in July.

Almada has been one of, if not the, standout player in Major League Soccer this season so far

But while he has long been considered a player who will be targeted by a European team, a club of United and City’s caliber would be a surprise move.

Almada has an eye for a spectacular goal – he scored from a rebound off his own free kick at the weekend for Atlanta in the 2-0 win against Philadelphia Union.

On the first day of the MLS season on Feb 25, he scored two goals from long range in stoppage time to haul Atlanta to a 2-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes.

And he has impressed Messi himself when the pair have trained together at Argentina.

Speaking in September, before the World Cup that Argentina would win, Messi said: ‘Thiago plays loose. He’s very fast and he has a lot of one v one ability. 

‘He’s very clever and he’s not afraid of anything. He’s goes at you.’