Despite the fact that it was already an open secret confirmed by all the parties involved, it was not until yesterday afternoon that the playmaker’s return was finally officially confirmed Juan Fernando Quintero to River Plate.
The club communicated the news with an announcement focused on the historic Copa Libertadores that he achieved together with the Millionaire in 2018, where he scored a goal and played a fundamental role in the final played in Madrid.
It may interest you: (James Rodríguez: in doubt his ownership against Argentina)
The also former Porto and Atlético Nacional soccer player arrived as a free agent when he was able to terminate his contract with Shenzhen due to lack of payments, and signed his contract for one year, with the option of another one, in the presence of Jorge Brito, president of the Núñez club, such as Matías Patanian, first vice president. Quintero has been in the country since January 20 and had already undergone medical tests ten days ago.
After the presentation, Quintero also participated in his first training session under the orders of Marcelo Gallardo, and also left a message for the club’s supporters: “I want to thank all the River fans from my heart for the messages of support and for the reception. We know we’re at the club and I personally want to make him very happy”.
“This year we have great aspirations, great goals, and we want to fulfill all those that we are going to attack”, continued the number 10, “so the help and support that you always give us, the voice of encouragement in the field, we need. Hopefully this year will be very prosperous for us and we can win a lot of things”.
His arrival crowns a highly productive January market for River, which had previously added Tomás Pochettino, Leandro González Pírez, Emmanuel Mammana, Elías Gómez and Esequiel Barco. Even so, the Band seems not to have retired yet, since it is still negotiating to also acquire a right back, with Marcelo Herrera, from San Lorenzo, as the main target.
Quintero, for his part, returns after three very successful years in Núñez, in which he recorded a total of 12 goals and 7 assists in 61 games, obtaining the aforementioned Copa Libertadores in 2018 and the Copa Argentina in 2019, winning by 3-0 to Central Córdoba in the final.
I wanted
Upon his arrival in Argentina on January 20, the man born in Medellín had been very enthusiastic about his reunion with the squad and the club: “I can’t wait to be with my teammates, I am very grateful for everything that gives me the people and for the effort so that I can be here”.
However, his debut back with the team will have to wait, due to a sprained knee he suffered a fortnight ago in a friendly he played with the Colombian team against Honduras. Quintero, for his part, downplayed the seriousness of his injury: “My knee is fine and I dream of a new Libertadores.”
Quintero’s return to the Monumental, which his club celebrated with the hashtag #ElRetornoDelRey on their social networks, also takes place in a transfer market marked by the returns of multiple footballers to their former clubs: Boca also made official the arrival of Darío Benedetto, Gabriel Hauche returned to Racing, Independiente confirmed Leandro Fernández, Mauro Boselli will play for Estudiantes after ten years; Gonzalo Bergessio will do it in Platense 22 years after his debut, Walter Montoya also returned to Rosario Central, Newell’s repatriated Leonel Vangioni; Diego Valeri will play again in Lanús, Darío Cvitanich will play in Banfield, and Luis Miguel “Pulga” Rodríguez will play the Copa Libertadores with Colón.
It may interest you: (Egan Bernal: harsh message from Chris Froome)
The Nation, Argentina
GDA
#Juan #Fernando #Quintero #returned #River #Plate #family