Tonight’s duel for the final of the Champions Trophy against Rosario Central in Santiago del Estero will not be just another match for River. Not only will the possibility of Núñez’s club winning a new title be at stake, but it may also mark the farewell of several players, and among them three historic players such as Enzo Perez, Nicholas De La Cruz y Matias Suarezwho could put on the red sash for the last time in the Mother of Cities.
The thing is that, for different reasons, each of them would not be part of the squad in 2024. Therefore, they will seek to win the Champions Trophy to close their chapters with a smile.
Enzo Pérez stopped the renewal of his contract in the middle of the year which expires on the 31st of this month and since that moment he has not given an answer about what he will do with his future. It will only be known after the final whistle of the match against Central blows, although in the preview it emerged what his destiny will be in 2024: Inter Miami by Lionel Messi.
The captain always stated that until the competition was over he would not give a definitive answer, beyond some indications he left along the way to suggest that he could put an end to his cycle at River.
One of them, for example, was when he made his family enter the playing field in the last game at the Monumental, against Hurricane, On November 3. He took photos with his children, received an ovation from all the fans as happened in every match in Núñez and after the defeat against Globo, some of those teammates, including Pity Martínez, dedicated a post to him that sounded like a farewell.
For its part, Nicolas De la Cruz Yes, he has already confirmed that he will play his last game in River: Flamengo will pay 16 million dollars, a number that was established in the signed sale agreement, and will take him to Rio de Janeiro for a five-year contract.
After a meeting in Punta del Este between Paco Pascal, his representative, and Marcos Braz, vice president of Fla, the details of the pass were finalized.
In this way, the 26-year-old midfielder will leave the club after six years, leaving 8 million dollars to the Millionaire and the same amount to Liverpool in Uruguay, where he trained.
For its part, Matias Suarezwhose contract also expires at the end of the month like Enzo Pérez, suffered a lot from complications in his right knee recently, with synovitis that afflicted him from time to time.
In any case, with great commitment, the man from Cordoba fought and every time he got well he had minutes on the court. But lately she played little. Since 2021, when he underwent a new surgical intervention in his career, his presence on the playing field was diminishing.
The forward, who arrived at River at the beginning of 2019, played 133 games with the red band, scored 40 goals, showed great quality on the field and won 6 titles.
The situation is different Salomon Rondonthe Venezuelan that Demichelis opted for this year and only in the second half of the year managed to establish himself in River’s lead, just when the team’s performance diminished.
However, the scorer’s decision is not based on football: he had personal problems and informed the coach that he wishes to be transferred or terminate his contract, when he still has two years left in his contract.
Rondón, 34 years old, has offers from Emelec in Ecuador and Pachuca in Mexico, although those around him report a possible departure for Spain due to family acclimatization issues, something that Demichelis himself made public a few months ago.
In total, the Venezuelan has 35 games with the red band, with 1,548 minutes on the field, 10 goals (4 in the Professional League and 6 in the League Cup), one of them against Boca in the 2-0 Superclásico in La Bombonera, won a title (the Professional League) and tonight is going for another.
Another name that will also say goodbye tonight in Santiago del Estero is Jonathan Maidanawho like Enzo also ends his contract on December 31 and has not yet defined whether he will continue playing or retire from football at 38 years of age.
The one who emerged in Boca had two periods in River. From 2010 to 2018 and from 2021 to the present. And he lived them all. From hell to heaven. From relegation to Nacional, to returning to Primera, to being champion and achieving eternal glory with the two Libertadores that he won, first in 2015 and then in 2018, in the final against Boca in Madrid.
Maidana became an important reference in the River squad despite his limited participation on the playing field in recent times. He has 317 games with 8 goals for the club. Jony preaches more by example than by word. Demichelis highlights his positivism and character. And Marcelo Gallardo once defined him as a “faithful warrior.”
Emanuel Mammana y Franco Zuculini They also end their contract on December 31 and did not arrange its renewal. Racing was one of the teams that stepped up to get the services of both players, although Vélez also asked about the defender.
To all those casualties for the upcoming River we must add a second platoon of “transferable” players, with three names whose departures would serve to shorten a squad that was “too long” according to the Millonario leaders.
they are Andres Herrera, David Martinez y Agustín Palavecinofor whom the arrival of offers is expected.