Botafogo disputing $21M fee to Atlanta for Almada

"GENEVA -- South American champion Botafogo, owned by American businessman John Textor, went to sport's highest court Wednesday in a dispute over an unpaid $21 million transfer fee to Major League Soccer club Atlanta United. The Brazilian club is challenging FIFA's order that it must pay the full amount for signing Argentina attacker Thiago Almada, a 2022 World Cup winner, after the first two installments went unpaid last year."

"The FIFA-published verdict of its own judge's ruling said Botafogo had asked "for more time to 'sort it out,'" when the Rio de Janeiro club replied to MLS' first request for an overdue scheduled payment on behalf of Atlanta. Almada is a 24-year-old attacker who played one game off the bench for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. He now plays for Atlético Madrid, which in July became his fourth different club, including two owned by Textor, in less than 13 months."

"FIFA's verdict showed Botafogo was due to make $3 million payments to Atlanta in July and September last year toward settling the full amount by September 2026. The first two payments were missed and MLS sent default notices to Textor's club. The $6 million "indeed remained outstanding" in February, FIFA's judge said in the ruling, which imposed a heavier fine on Botafogo because of its "previous sanctions" from the world soccer body."

Botafogo, owned by American businessman John Textor, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over a dispute about a $21 million transfer fee owed to Major League Soccer club Atlanta United. FIFA ordered Botafogo to pay the full amount after the club missed the first two $3 million installments due in July and September last year toward a settlement deadline of September 2026. MLS issued default notices after those payments were missed. FIFA's judge found $6 million remained outstanding in February and imposed a heavier fine because of Botafogo’s previous sanctions and repeated offenses. Thiago Almada, a 24-year-old Argentina attacker and 2022 World Cup winner, played at the 2024 Paris Olympics, helped Botafogo win the Copa Libertadores, and moved to Atlético Madrid in July, his fourth club in less than 13 months.

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