Overview
- Coach Marcelo Gallardo has targeted Villa as a priority winger for River’s 2026 squad after the Colombian’s standout season with Independiente Rivadavia.
- New president Stefano Di Carlo and the board maintain a firm stance against the signing, citing the player’s past gender-violence conviction and the political cost among supporters.
- Independiente Rivadavia values Villa at between US$10 million and US$12 million, with club president Daniel Vila insisting they will not discount their top performer.
- Recent reporting indicates River is weighing a package of cash, the transfer of goalkeeper Ezequiel Centurión, and loans of two youth players rather than a straight cash bid.
- No agreement is in place and formal talks remain limited, even as Villa’s camp and figures linked to Gallardo, including agent Rodrigo Riep and Juan Fernando Quintero, promote the move.