Worth mentioning that he doesn't count against our 2 reinforcements because he arrives at the club because Colon couldn't pay him so he got his contract rescinded... (something that happened to various players at Colon during their recent institutional crisis) So that means even though both Enzo and D'Onofrio have discarded the possibility of signing another player, we are still able to do so.... (God this 2 reinforcement rule is so stupid considering the amount of exceptions there are... why not just allow unlimited signings like it used to be)
Well there goes the hope of Lucho joining in June: http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...zalez-se-fue-porto-al-rayyan-qatar-river.html .... and another one. Hopefully we can snap up Cambiasso still, but it just seems we're never capable of clinching up the successful players.
Guido Pizarro on loan? http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...o-volante-interesado-river-tigres-mexico.html EDIT -- Discarded: "No hay nada real sobre eso", sentenció D'Onofrio, que además anunció que La Banda no comprará ni venderá más. "Salvo que ocurra alguna cosa muy extraña, éste es el plantel de River. Tenemos jugadores, tenemos recambio", indicó. Las palabras del presidente descartaron cualquier posibilidad de ver al actual volante de Tigres de México con La Banda, así también como cualquier incorporación de último momento.
Matias Sanchez (Chacarita; Argentina U-20 NT) to arrive on loan for a year: http://www.cariverplate.com.ar/matias-sanchez-refuerzo-river-plate-torneo-final-2014/ He showed some good displays in the youth NTs and linked up well with Sebastian Driussi. Smart move. The contract includes a transfer clause of $1,750,000 for 50%.
Leandro Gonzalez Pirez back from Belgium, but out on loan again.. This time to Arsenal de Sarandi for six months.. http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...nzalez-pirez-se-fue-a-prestamo-a-arsenal.html
Newcastle (ENG) rumored to be interested in Manuel Lanzini: http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...oferta-manuel-lanzini-diez-millones-de-d.html
If Lanzini keeps up his form he is gone for sure in June. I don't know who to replace him with since Fabbro sucks.
Well Fabbro is leaving in June too, since that's when his loan ends. Of course we will have the option to buy him, but given his poor performances and our disastrous finances, it is almost impossible to imagine that happening unless Fabbro somehow magically becomes Alonso in the coming months. As for other options to replace him, you have to remember that there are plenty of other pibes in the same inferiores that he came from: Tomas Martinez, Daniel Denot, Mauro Mallorca, Matias Sanchez, etc, etc. The options are there, we just have to see if they are ready for primera. Another alternative would be Pablo Aimar, who Enzo and D'Onofrio keep on bringing up in every damn interview they give. D'Onofrio did say it would be more likely that they could bring him at the end of the year than in June, but you never know...
Speaking of pibes, Gio Simeone could be moving on loan to San Martin (SJ), who are interested in his services after their forward Damian Ledesma suffered an injury that will keep him out the rest of the season. http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...meone-posible-salida-San-Martin-San-Juan.html
Gio Simeone is actually the closest of our young strikers to make the step up to primera, so a loan would be really great for him I think.
Gimnasia (LP) interested in Federico Andrada on loan to replace an injured striker. http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...lado-gimnasia-la-plata-estudiantes-river.html Hopefully this one goes through. It would be ideal for all 3 parties.
Newell's added to the list of teams interested in Federico Andrada on loan. Previously, Gimnasia (LP) and Argentinos Jrs. had made inquiries, but their offers were turned down. http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...ontratar-a-federico-andrada-mercado-2014.html
First the Aimar and Saviola rumors, now D'Alessandro coming out to say that it doesn't cross his head not returning to River and that his contract just happens to end in 3 months in Inter. Usual humo season? Or will we actually see some (if not a couple) of them return in June now that we have a new dirigiencia in charge?
Here's what D'Alessandro had to say, if anyone missed it: "En algún momento volveré, pero en algún momento estando bien. No se me cruza por la cabeza no volver a River. Tengo ese pensamiento, el de terminar mi carrera en el club en el que empecé. No estoy diciendo nada que no haya dicho anteriormente y que en el Inter no sepan. El presidente de Inter lo sabe y a veces me carga con que no me puedo ir. Pero saben el cariño que tengo por River, pero también saben del cariño que tengo por Inter". "Es una situación difícil, en la que hasta entran los sentimientos, porque acá estoy en mi casa. Desde el utilero hasta el que me abre el portón a la mañana me reciben diez puntos. Son seis años de una relación excelente. Veremos qué pasa después de junio, al término del contrato", explicó D'Alessandro, en diálogo con Fox Sports. "No sé si voy a renovar con Inter o no, es una posibilidad. Seguramente se hablará a partir de junio. Pero es otra cosa vivir en Porto Alegre: mis hijos están bien. Mi hijo tiene 5 años, habla portugués perfecto, estudia y tiene sus cosas acá. Hicimos una vida acá y estamos cerca de Buenos Aires, a una hora y veinte de mis viejos y mis amigos. O sea, tengo la posibilidad de ir para allá o de que ellos vengan. Eso facilita mucho las cosas. Por eso no descarto la posibilidad de vivir acá y el día de mañana trabajar en el club, que es algo que ya me han propuesto". http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/Ex-River/21119-dalessandro-quiero-retirarme-en-river-plate.html?h However, he does also mention his kids and their lives in Porto Alegre. Hopefully what happened to Fabbro the other day doesn't stop him or others from returning. Also, I could have sworn his contract ended in December 2015 and not this June, so hopefully this interview wasn't "misquoted."
Ole finally hopped on the story and provided more quotes from el cabezon, including one in which he expresses safety concerns as I expected: * “Por otro lado, la vida en Argentina está complicada. Para la familia, cada vez que vamos de vacaciones, volvemos con un poco de miedo. Eso pesa mucho con respecto a la tranquilidad que le quiero dar a mi familia”. * “Ramón me hizo debutar, me dio confianza, me llevó a San Lorenzo, siempre confió en mí. Tengo un aprecio muy grande y volvería a trabajar con él sin dudas, ojalá se de”. * “Acá (Inter) conquisté el cariño de la gente, más allá de los títulos, nunca pensé que iba a ser tan grande. Es muy difícil salir de acá. Siento que me valoran, que me quieren y que me ven vigente”. http://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/futbol/cruza-volver-River_0_1101490117.html Strangely enough, Ole's version of the interview doesn't include Andres mentioning anything about his contract ending in 3 months like LPM's did... hmmmmmmm....
I know Argentina is very unsafe at the moment, but statistically, Brazil is the most violent country in the world… He acts like he's living in Switzerland or something. The other day, I read on lance (Brazil's version of Ole) how a botafogo player got picked up after practice and taken around to a bunch of ATMs taking out all the money he could… Yea… Brazil is strong economically, but its not safe at all. It also has one of the highest number of rapes in the world… Women are not recommended to travel to brazil alone.. I know Porto Alegre is safer than RIo and Sao Paulo and the chaotic north… But Brasil is Brasil The bottom line is, Brazil you get paid in reales or USD in Argentina in useless pesos. Trust me, if the situations were reversed and Argentina was going through a strong economic moment and Brazil had rampant inflation, he'd never have set foot in Porto Alegre.
And on the topic of safety… Eto'o went to play for that team Anzhi… A place so dangerous the team couldn't even train in the city, they had to fly in the night before games… And we're talking serious crime and terrorism there… Eto'o went for the money…. Or I hear the same thing from players who go to play in Mexico of all places… What a joke.. Salvador Cabañas got shot in the head in a night club in DF… I admire players who want the best for their family, but the truth is the clubs that put the money take the players. Right now in Mexico, a lot of clubs are not able to pay their players… Puebla, Queretaro, Chiapas, and Morelia haven't plaid anyone in 2014 yet… Players are gonna stop going to play in Mexico, not because of the insecurity, the biggest shanty town in the world on the outskirts of DF, or because of the cartels, but because a bunch of team have no money left (remember when Puebla couldn't pay for Maidana?)
Santos (BRA) eyeing Eder Alvarez Balanta http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...rasil-interes-eder-alvarez-balanta-river.html
Rumored Sevilla and Betis interest in Carlos Carbonero. http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...onero-interes-europa-sevilla-betis-river.html It is worth noting that the Colombian is only on loan at River, but we do have an option to buy his transfer anytime within the next 2 months. However, given the supposed interest, it'll be likely that River will buy his transfer only to sell him shortly after, similarly to what Newell's did with Scocco.
The same Puebla that hasn't been able to pay their players in 2014 yet? http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=2040610 And the same Puebla that didn't have the money to buy Maidana at the start of the season? Until we see the money, I won't believe anything from a club like that.
Pablo Aimar terminated his contract in Malaysia and his agent admitted that River is one of the options he is handling right now. Given how much D'Onofrio likes to talk about Aimar, I figure this time his return is finally sealed unless pablito pussies out for fear of ruining his image. Supposedly he's having injury problems in Asia and that's the reason they're letting him go, but I remember them saying the same thing about Trezeguet before he arrived. Many might say he's old or done, but his quality could make the difference in today's futbol argentino -- once again, look at Trezeguet, or Riquelme's sensational shot that gave Boca 3 points yesterday, or the difference an old Veron makes for Estudiantes, etc, etc. Plus, with Lanzini and Fabbro most likely leaving in June, it wouldn't be bad to have a new option to reinforce the offensive midfield. Although a lot of people don't seem too excited about his possible return any more, I would give him a shot if he's interested. At least a short term contract and then see where things go from there.
In other news, Hellas Verona have offered 1 million euros to buy 50% of Ezequiel Cirigliano's transfer rights. http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...cirigliano-cincuenta-por-ciento-del-pase.html Quite low, honestly, but we do need money and Cirigliano would be behind Ledesma, Krannevitter, and Rojas today, and let's not forget there's also Ponzio (although he'll probably leave), Aguirre, Aguero, etc. What would you guys do? Accept the offer, or just turn it down and give him another shot with la banda?
on Aimar, Im kinda skeptical. Mostly because of the injuries, and probably out of shape/form hell be in. If he doesnt expect to be paid much, welcome aboard. But I dunno, Id almost rather see a kid get a shot. Cazares/Martinez who knows. On Cirigliano, you reject that shit. Call their bluff, his buyout is 2.5 million. If they really want him thats not alot of money. And if they dont someone will pay that, for a player who has been contributing on an upper midtable Italian team. Apparently Iturbes been doing well too. Also I think River should look into buying Carbonero, I read somewhere that it was a cheap buy, something like 400k. That may be wrong but I think that would be a worthwhile investment, whether to keep him around or flip him for a profit. Because Ive got to imagine hes caught the eye of some midtable teams in Italy or Spain.
If Aimar is interested and we don't have to pay him, we should definitely sign him. However, he shouldn't be treated as an "idolo" in the likes of Ortega, Salas, or Gallardo or even "lesser" idolos like Cavenaghi and Chori when they returned. He should be made to work for a starting spot and should be gifted nothing... Not even an ovation in his first match I think Aimar could be a very useful signing, but make him earn his spot. I'm not going to forget anytime soon that this dude chose to play his football in Malaysia instead of returning to River...