Arsenal Scout Discusses Thiago Almada’s Misfit Status

Arsenal’s talent scout, Jonathan Vidalle, has provided insights on why the club decided against pursuing Thiago Almada for a transfer.

Current Status of Thiago Almada

The Argentine player is currently signed with Atletico Madrid and boasts a prestigious achievement of winning the World Cup while he was part of Atlanta United.

Reasons Behind the Decision

Despite receiving 56 favorable assessments regarding Almada’s performance, the club ultimately chose to pass on him primarily due to concerns about his physical attributes.

Vidalle stated in an interview with ADN Deportes: “I’ve always been an advocate for Thiago Almada; I have a high regard for him. However, he has a physical disadvantage, particularly when it comes to competing in the Premier League.”

“I’ve compiled 56 reports on him, dating back to his time in the eighth division, also known as the U-15 level.”

The Depth of Modern Scouting

Elaborating on the extensive efforts scouts are now making to evaluate young talent, Vidalle shared an example: “During the U20 World Cup held in Argentina, two of my colleagues produced a detailed dossier on Declan Rice that spanned eight or nine pages.”

He remarked that the thoroughness of such reports resembles that of intelligence assessments, including detailed metrics like age progression, mental resilience, and shifts in focus during games. “Our scouting depth has significantly evolved,” he noted.