River Plate have agreed a permanent transfer worth more than €20m with Atletico Madrid, a fee that eclipses the previous Argentine transfer record shared by Ángel Correa and Cristian Medina, the midfielder Estudiantes signed for €15m.
The move marks another significant statement of financial muscle from River, who continue to reshape their squad around World Cup winners following a difficult period for the club under Eduardo "Chacho" Coudet.
Almada arrived at the Metropolitano only last summer following a season on loan at Olympique Lyonnais, brought in to add competition following Correa's departure, but his time in Madrid proved far shorter than anyone anticipated. He played 40 matches in his single season as a Rojiblanco, scoring four goals and providing two assists, without ever establishing himself as the difference-maker Diego Simeone had hoped for, a difficult adaptation compounded by a muscle injury that cost him five weeks early in the campaign.
River had been working on the signing for weeks, fending off interest from Flamengo, who reportedly took the lead in the race at one point, before Almada made clear his preference to return to Argentina rather than continue his career in Brazil.
At Atlético, the sale is viewed as sound business on multiple levels: it recoups the bulk of the investment made in the player last summer, and frees up space in the squad and on the wage bill for further incoming business. Almada's departure is one of several moves currently in motion at the club, with Nahuel Molina expected to join Roma and Matteo Ruggeri closing in on a switch to Aston Villa, sales that could collectively bring in more than €65m and help fund a move for Tottenham's Cristian Romero.
At 25, Almada leaves Europe having never quite settled, arriving with a reputation as one of the most talented players of his generation and having reached the World Cup final with Argentina, and will now look to rediscover his best form back on home soil.