As the January football transfer window remains open, clubs throughout Europe are actively seeking to enhance their squads for the latter part of the season. In this context, French club Olympique Lyonnais has made a noteworthy acquisition by signing Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada. Almada arrives on an initial loan from Brazilian side Botafogo, and his signing was announced distinctively, continuing the tradition of memorable transfer videos.

The announcement of the 23-year-old midfielder's signing was made via a video released by Lyon, in which he receives a text message from 'Lionel,' accompanied by a goat emoji, clearly referencing the iconic Lionel Messi, Almada's fellow countryman and teammate in the Argentine national team. The message conveyed to Almada in the video states, "Don't listen to Cristiano, Ligue 1 is incredible."

Lyon's retribution for Ronaldo's comments

The text presents a clever and somewhat sarcastic comment from the seven-time champions of France, alluding to Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous assertion that Ligue 1 is a less competitive league compared to the Saudi Pro League, where he currently plays for Al Nassr. Ronaldo had suggested that the standard of football in Saudi Arabia is superior, while the French league is often regarded as the weakest among Europe’s 'top five' leagues.

Lionel Messi, on the other hand, spent two years in France, having joined Paris Saint-Germain after his tenure at Barcelona. During his time at PSG, Messi was part of a star-studded lineup alongside Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe, until the trio was disbanded as they departed France, with Messi moving to Inter Miami, Neymar transferring to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Mbappe securing a significant transfer to Real Madrid.

Thiago Almada was a member of the Argentina national team that won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, contributing to Messi's long-awaited triumph and solidifying his legacy as the greatest of all time. Almada has made six appearances for Argentina, scoring two goals, and has now secured a move to Europe after his time with Atlanta United in Major League Soccer and a brief stint in Brazil with Botafogo. He will be joining fellow Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico, who also featured in the announcement video.

Currently, Lyon occupies the sixth position in the Ligue 1 standings, with half of the season completed. The club aims to contend for a place in next year's UEFA Champions League, and Almada could play a pivotal role in their pursuit of a strong finish to the season.

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