Finding the next Thiago Almada – the Top Three wonderkids for Football Manager greatness

Thiago Almada is my favorite Football Manager player of all time. He’s the perfect combination of so many things. First off, he’s Argentinian, which is basically heaven for Football Manager wonderkids; he’s a playmaker with great acceleration, and most importantly—he always performs.

I don’t think I’ve ever signed the wonderkid player without witnessing magic on the pitch. In a 4-2-3-1 which, let’s be honest, we all use, he’s the perfect central attacking midfielder, dribbling and creating chances. But here’s the problem: Almada is starting to move out of wonderkid territory. He’s turned 23 and, come April, he’ll be 24. In Football Manager terms, he’s almost retirement age!

Thankfully, he hasn’t joined a top-five European league yet, so he’s still affordable. But surely, it’s only a matter of time before the aging star gets snapped up. So, even if you don’t think he’s too old, it’s time to get proactive and find the next Argentinian playmaker to dominate Football Manager saves in the future. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a shortlist of replacements who are likely to dominate for years to come.

Nico Paz

When he played for Real Madrid, he was obviously not an acceptable successor to Thiago Almada, but midfielder Nico Paz is a great pick as the next star in your Football Manager lineup. Now that he’s joined the newly-promoted Como, he should be much more affordable. Como is just one point above the relegation zone, so there’s a chance he’ll go for a bargain price soon.

According to SCOUTED, Paz has a Real Madrid buy-back clause, so make sure to grab him before he’s a future Galactico alongside Jude Bellingham and co. At 18 in the game, he already has 13 acceleration, 14 passing, and 13 vision—all traits that scream “young Thiago Almada.”

Franco Mastantuono

Here’s all you need to know about Franco to know you need to buy him immediately. He’s from the River Plate academy and their youngest-ever goalscorer, with 18 appearances at just 17 years of age. If you don’t act fast, you know Real Madrid or Chelsea will come knocking and make him one of the best players in the world.

At just 15-years-old in-game, Mastanrtuono already has 13 acceleration, 17 flair, and 14 dribbling. Absolutely sensational. And the speedy Argentinian is only getting faster as he continues his career.

Valentin Carboni

Buying from the Serie A champions would have been impossible a few years ago, but thanks to the ridiculous money in the Premier League and financial struggles elsewhere, it’s now within reach. Imagine telling someone in 2010 that Brentford or Brighton could easily poach top young talent from Inter Milan. With this in mind, grabbing Valentín Carboni from Inter Milan is actually quite doable—and you 100% should, because he’s an absolute beast in the game.

At just 18, his stats are insane. Carboni already boasts a stat sheet consisting of 14 dribbling, 14 passing, and 15 technique. And if you need more convincing, he has 16 determination. It’s time to build your team around this Argentinian freak of nature.

Conclusion

As Almada ages out of the sport, although there are still some years left for the playmaker, these are the top three replacements you should keep your eye on. A notable shoutout also goes to Claudio Echeverri, who’d be on the list if he hadn’t signed for Manchester City. Although, in the game, he could eventually end up being one of those players City forgets about, leaving him available for a bargain.

For more Football Manager tips, tricks and newsy bits, check out the recent delay to FM 25 as well as five huge improvements Sports Interactive needs to make before the next game actually releases.

About the Author

William Reid

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.