River Plate president Stefano Di Carlo explained the club's institutional distancing from the Argentine Football Association's leadership during the fifth ordinary session of the Board of Directors. The 84-minute meeting at the Monumental Stadium also saw the official confirmation of Leonardo Ponzio as head coach, with a contract running from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027.

Di Carlo addressed a query about the relationship with the AFA, restating the position the club communicated in March and August. "Institutional dialogue always exists, and it never stopped, regardless of the moments we have been inside the AFA structure and moments we have not," the president stated. He was clear about the stance towards the current federation leadership.

A Stance of Principle

The River Plate president argued that maintaining a position of "being inside" and "making deals" can sometimes mean abandoning the club's core values. "Even more so when the AFA president clearly has animosity and does not love River. That is a reality," Di Carlo said. "What you cannot expect is for someone who doesn't love you to love you," he added, concluding his argument on the need to debate with substance from within football politics without submission.

Ponzio's confirmation comes during a positive sporting spell. The team sits seventh in the Argentine Professional League with 13 points from nine games, five points behind leaders Argentinos Juniors. Their last result was a 2-1 win over Atlético Tucumán on 12 September, a match where new signings Tobías Andrada and Thiago Almada scored. The team's recent form includes three consecutive victories, with the last two matches seeing them score a total of 5 goals. Under Ponzio, the team has averaged 2.3 goals per game.

Transfer Market Investment

Although no official figures were released, the club planned significant investment in the winter market. Key operations included the arrivals of Thiago Almada from Atlético Madrid and Ángel Correa from Tigres, plus Lucas Beltrán, Mauro Arambarri, and Francisco Ortega from Europe. The deal for Tobías Andrada, valued at $7.4 million for 80% of his economic rights, also included a purchase option on youth players from Liniers.

Di Carlo highlighted the work of the restructured scouting department under sporting director Pablo Fernández Longoria and the creation of a Performance Department covering video analysis and nutrition. The team faces its next fixture on 19 September against Huracán at the Monumental, aiming to extend a three-game winning streak.

Ponzio's contract, though signed for two years, is effectively valid for one year under Collective Labor Agreement rules that limit interim roles. The coach, who has won all three of his official matches in charge, will lead the team through a key phase of the season as River Plate looks to close the gap at the top of the table.

More detail at La Nacion AR Deportes