O Botafogo released an official note this Tuesday (12/9) announcing that he was convicted of CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) to pay the full purchase price of Thiago Almada to the Atlanta Unitedmade in July 2024.
As a result, Glorioso will have to pay US$21 million (around R$114 million) to the North American club, at the risk of suffering transfer ban FIFA – penalty of not being able to register players until the outstanding issues are resolved.
Atlanta United demands that FIFA pay the first two installments of the sale of Almada, which should have been paid in July and September 2024. FIFA demanded full payment, but Botafogo appealed.
Botafogo claims that Atlanta demanded that Almada give up the 10% to which he was entitled under MLS regulations, something that the Argentine’s businesspeople did not agree to. For the deal to proceed, it was decided that Eagle would buy this “credit” of US$ 2.1 million and then “go after” it to receive this amount from MLS.
Botafogo charges this 10% in the United States courts, while Atlanta United went to FIFA. Furthermore, the North American club presented a document to FIFA in which the signing should be paid by June 2026, while Botafogo says that payment would be made in four years.
In the official note (read the full text below), Botafogo also informed that John Textor “presented financing proposals” to the other shareholders of the Eagle Football to cover the payment of current outstanding issues at FIFA and guaranteed that the businessman has “fully guaranteed resources” for such items.
See Botafogo’s official note below:
Botafogo, represented by the law firm Bichara e Motta Advogados, received this Tuesday (09/12) the arbitration decision handed down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which condemns the Club to pay the entire amount involved in the transfer of player Thiago Almada, to Atlanta United, from the United States.
Maintaining its commitment to transparency with its fans, the Club informs that it will continue to adopt all applicable legal measures in the case.
It is worth noting that John Textor, majority shareholder of SAF Botafogo, presented financing proposals to the other partners of Eagle Football Holdings to cover the payment of all Botafogo’s existing outstanding issues with FIFA, as well as the budget for player signings in the January transfer window and for the remainder of the 2026 season. Textor has fully guaranteed resources for these items and hopes to obtain the cooperation and approval of these budgets from a friendly and friendly Eagle board. cooperative.
