After winning the 2024 Copa Sudamericana, the paths of Racing y Juanfer Quintero They separated. The Colombian star announced his departure from the Academy, despite having a current contract with the institution. Although it took a while and was very difficult, he got an offer that meets the club’s financial demands, but Avellaneda made one last request.
The thing is that the new leadership led by Diego Milito and in the football part by Sebastián Saja, were not going to get rid of Juanfer so easily. The offensive midfielder was a key piece in building the squad and one of Gustavo Costas’ undisputed starters. But Quintero had decided: his career would only continue in Colombia so he could be close to his family.
In that sense, the player flirted with different teams in his native country but none offered what the Academy requested. However, América de Cali appeared and, after several rejected proposals, finally saw Racing’s approval to advance the contract. But when everything was just one signature away from being finalized, a new and strange request appeared.
The truth is that Racing would have added an unprecedented clause in the contract detailing the sale of Quintero to América de Cali. It requests that the footballer cannot return to Argentine football in the period of time that unites him with the new link with the Colombian team. That is to say, depending on how many years Juanfer signs, during that period he cannot play in Argentina.
It could be said that this is a “anti River clause”, in the midst of the constant rumors that take power in each transfer market. Because, since his departure from Millonario, the coffee hitch is one of the names that is on the radar to have a stay again in the team that showed its best version and where it is very loved for that memorable goal against Boca in the final of Madrid.
A no small fact that increases the possibilities of a return to the Monumental is the return of Marcelo Gallardo as coach of River. The coach always had a weakness for Juanfer and vice versa. Although she was not a starter for much of the time they met, she was one of the regulars who came on from the substitute bench in the last half hour of play.
Furthermore, the link between Doll and Juanfer goes beyond what happens on the field, since they maintain a great personal relationship. In this transfer window, the 32-year-old left-hander was among the candidates to reinforce the Millonario squad, but the possibility was finally ruled out due to the imperative need to return to Colombian soil.
This request that arose from the Cilindro de Avellaneda offices, slightly delayed the player’s transfer to his country, while the soccer player already has the tickets prepared to arrive in Colombia in the next few hours and continue his life in a city close to his circle. intimate. It should be remembered that the reason is to be close to his family, who is going through a difficult time.
As if the rumors were not enough, on January 18, a video call between Juanfer and Gallardo went viral where they both greeted each other on their respective birthdays. The situation added fuel to the fire. And this Tuesday, the anti-River clause that Racing would have imposed to release the coffee grower became known.
In any case, the express request from the Racing leadership for Juanfer not to return to Argentine football in the short term (or to River, more precisely), It is not an impediment for the transfer to reach a successful conclusion.. Therefore, Cali’s transfer to America is out of all danger and will be 100% confirmed in the next few hours.
In line with the non-negotiable demands imposed from Avellaneda, the president of América de Cali, Tulio Gómez, referred to the last minute changes and declared: “Racing has imposed many obstacles for the signing. It has been quite complex in that sense. The delay lies in the arrival of the transfer”.