Overview
- Alejandro “Cuca” Montenegro visited the group training at River’s Cantilo facility on Friday, posted a message of support for the sidelined players, and publicly reproached club directors for how they handled older squad members.
- River’s coach and directors have removed a tranche of first-team players from the main squad and ordered them to train separately at Cantilo as part of an institutional roster overhaul.
- Two players — Maximiliano Meza and Paulo Díaz — have already left River after finding new clubs, while Clarín reports Matías Galarza, Kevin Castaño and Kendry Páez completed medicals and will join the separated group as the club seeks transfer solutions.
- Reported interest varies by case: Bologna and Mexico’s Necaxa have been linked to Galarza, MLS clubs have enquired about Castaño, and River aims to interrupt Páez’s loan from Chelsea to arrange a new move, all creating time pressure before the window closes.
- The episode raises human and reputational questions for River because players are training apart while they try to resolve contracts, and the club’s handling of departures is likely to draw further public and internal scrutiny as transfers are pursued.