River Plate fans are buzzing as the club enters a pivotal preseason ahead of the 2026 campaign, marked by a flurry of transfer activity, evolving squad dynamics, and a renewed sense of urgency under coach Marcelo Gallardo. The air in Ezeiza, where the team is grinding through double training sessions, is thick with anticipation and speculation—not least because River’s ambitions are clear: bounce back from a disappointing 2025 and reclaim silverware as soon as possible.
Gallardo’s approach has been methodical. Even before the formal close of the 2025 season, River Plate’s management set the wheels in motion for a significant squad overhaul. The club swiftly secured two crucial signings: Fausto Vera, arriving from Atlético Mineiro, and Aníbal Moreno, fresh off a stint with Palmeiras. Both midfielders have already donned River’s kit at training, and the expectation is that they’ll become linchpins in a restructured midfield. Vera is slotted for a central holding role, while Moreno is being groomed for a more dynamic, box-to-box presence.
“The speed with which these signings were completed shows the coaching staff’s priority to stabilize a midfield that’s seen too much flux,” a club insider commented, echoing the sentiment among supporters. The departures of experienced campaigners like Enzo Pérez and Nacho Fernández only amplified River’s need for immediate reinforcement. Recent additions—Portillo, Galarza Fonda, Galoppo, and Castaño—haven’t quite cemented their places, making the arrivals of Vera and Moreno even more significant.
Yet, Gallardo isn’t done. The club’s transfer targets extend across four key positions: right back, central defender, attacking midfielder, and striker. Talks are ongoing with Jhohan Romaña to bolster the defense, and the creative midfield slot remains open, with Santiago Andino of Godoy Cruz currently leading a shrinking shortlist. Up front, Tadeo Allende’s name is circulating as a potential solution to River’s attacking woes, though there’s speculation that the club might pursue Maher Carrizo of Vélez if other deals fall through. And who knows—River’s transfer dealings are rarely straightforward, so a surprise or two could still be in store.
Meanwhile, the club is also working to trim the squad. Fabricio Bustos, Sebastián Boselli, Paulo Díaz, and Jeremías Ledesma are all fielding offers. The club’s preference is to finalize these exits before the preseason intensifies in January. Players returning from loans—Nasif, Trindade, Alfonso, Leiva, Serrago, and Elían Giménez—won’t be sticking around either. River’s leadership is clear: only those who fit the new vision will remain.
On the injury front, River faces some tough setbacks. Germán Pezzella and Giorgio Costantini are both sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament tears, while Maxi Meza is recovering from a left patellar tendon avulsion. None are expected to participate in the early preseason, and their absences could influence further transfer decisions.
The team’s preseason schedule is as demanding as it is strategic. After wrapping up initial double sessions in Ezeiza, the squad will decamp to San Martín de los Andes for a week of intense training starting January 2, 2026. This mountain retreat has become a tradition for River, offering both isolation and focus. Once the hard work is done, the team will head to Punta del Este, where two friendlies—against Peñarol and Nacional—await. These matches will serve as a litmus test for Gallardo’s new-look side and could offer early clues about how well the new recruits are settling in.
River’s transfer activity isn’t happening in a vacuum. The club is part of a broader South American scramble for talent, as evidenced by the fierce interest in Ecuadorian striker Kevin Rodríguez. Rodríguez, currently with Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise, is reportedly on the radar of not just River Plate and archrivals Boca Juniors, but also Palmeiras and Atlético Mineiro. The competition is even stiffer with European heavyweights—Olympiacos, Napoli, Como, Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, and Porto—all expressing interest. Whether River will make a formal bid for Rodríguez remains to be seen, but his name keeps surfacing in Buenos Aires transfer chatter.
Elsewhere in the Argentine football landscape, transfer rumors are swirling around other high-profile players. One such case is José Enamorado, the Colombian winger who just helped Junior de Barranquilla to a Liga BetPlay title. Despite links to River Plate and top Brazilian clubs, Junior has confirmed that Enamorado will stay put for the 2026 season. The Barranquilla club reportedly valued 70% of his rights at $3 million, with the remainder owned by Real Cartagena. Enamorado’s 2025 stats are impressive: 53 appearances, 11 goals, 6 assists, and three goals in the championship final. River’s interest was real, but for now, the Colombian star remains out of reach.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid has made headlines by shutting down speculation about a potential loan move for Franco Mastantuono. The Argentine youngster, who’s faced criticism in the Spanish press for struggling to adapt to the pace of European football and for his performance in the Copa del Rey against Talavera, will remain at the club. Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano clarified on social media, “The reports suggesting Franco Mastantuono would leave Real Madrid on loan in January are far from reality.” Both coach Xabi Alonso and the club’s sporting directors see Mastantuono as a key part of their project, despite the bumps along the way.
Back in River’s camp, the sense of urgency is unmistakable. The club’s leadership has made it clear: after a lackluster 2025, there’s little margin for error. Gallardo’s message to the squad is simple—results are expected, and fast. Every transfer, every training session, and every friendly is being scrutinized as River aims to hit the ground running when competitive fixtures resume.
As the preseason unfolds, River Plate supporters will be watching closely. Will the new signings gel? Can Gallardo’s revamped squad deliver the immediate results the club craves? With transfer negotiations ongoing and friendly matches just around the corner, the coming weeks promise plenty of drama—and potentially, the first glimpses of a River team ready to return to the summit of South American football.
