Why River accelerated Quintero's exit: His future may be in Brazil

Juan Fernando Quintero's departure from River Plate has been finalized, marking his second exit from the Argentine club. The Colombian midfielder's dissatisfaction was evident when he was left on the sidelines during a crucial match, despite being available. This situation underscored his diminishing role under coach Eduardo Coudet, who had Quintero on the field for only 455 minutes out of a possible 1380 across 15 official matches.

Quintero, who had a contract until December 2027, chose to leave River Plate again, similar to his previous departures in 2020 for China and late 2022. His decision to prioritize personal matters, including taking an extended leave after the World Cup instead of rejoining the team on July 24, signaled his intent to move on. This contrasted with other players who returned promptly after international duty.

The club unofficially announced Quintero had received a leave of absence for personal reasons, with plans to travel from Miami to Medellín. This news came shortly after coach Coudet mentioned Quintero's return. Quintero himself expressed that he had not spoken with the coach since his departure and felt he was not a priority, suggesting that if he were, he would have returned sooner.

His departure comes as River Plate strengthens its squad with arrivals like Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolás Otamendi. Quintero's future is rumored to be in Brazil, although official confirmation is pending. His exit suggests a divergence between his immediate personal interests and the club's plans, leading to his second farewell from the Núñez-based team.

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With the coach I haven't spoken since I left. Surely he doesn't know about the situation. Surely I am not a priority for him; if I had been a priority for Coudet, I would have been back in two days.