River Plate Plans Major Squad Overhaul: 15 Players Out, 5-7 In

River Plate's president, Stefano Di Carlo, has declared a complex situation requiring aggressive intervention, announcing a significant squad reduction and reinforcement plan. Following a disappointing first half of the season, the club intends to release approximately 15 players and acquire five to seven high-caliber reinforcements. This strategic shift aims to alter the club's management policy and began activation this week with Di Carlo, technical secretary Enzo Francescoli, sporting director Pablo Longoria, and coach Eduardo Coudet.

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The situation is complex and requires aggressive intervention.

The past season for River was marked by extreme fluctuations, from renewed hope to widespread calls for player departures. The team exhibited constant ups and downs, struggling to display good football or achieve consistent player performance. After Marcelo Gallardo's departure following the first eight matches, an interim period by Marcelo Escudero, and Eduardo Coudet's subsequent 17 games, River reached the Apertura final but lost 3-2 to Belgrano. They also topped their Copa Sudamericana group but lost the Superclásico in April.

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We have decided jointly that around 15 players will leave. The process starts today. It will have to happen very quickly.

Beyond the stark statistics, River has lost its reliability. The team has not been a champion for over two years, nor has it been a secure, offensive, or convincing side, despite investing over $85 million in 20 players during the latter part of Gallardo's tenure. Di Carlo emphasized that the restructuring must be profound and decisive to better manage resources, including thorough reviews of high contracts, underperformance, and ill-suited player profiles. "We have decided jointly that around 15 players will leave. The process starts today. It will have to happen very quickly," Di Carlo stated in an ESPN interview. "Now the logic will be to manage player exits. For some, we will sell them in the best way possible, and for others, we will sell them for less than we bought them, accepting the loss, but we will cut a situation that is not sustainable."

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Now the logic will be to manage player exits. For some, we will sell them in the best way possible, and for others, we will sell them for less than we bought them, accepting the loss, but we will cut a situation that is not sustainable.

The president highlighted the unsustainable cost of the current squad and its labor contracts. The plan is to reduce the number of players to 15 and concentrate the budget on five to seven key signings. This move signifies a departure from the club's previous approach of waiting for processes to unfold and honoring contracts, prioritizing immediate squad management and financial sustainability.

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The most relevant data that nobody asks about is the cost of the squad with labor contracts. We have to let fifteen go and concentrate that budget on five or seven players.