Fabricio Bustos is on the verge of leaving Club Atlético River Plate. The right-back is negotiating the termination of his contract after being sidelined from the squad.
The club will not recover the 5.4 million dollar investment made in mid-2024 to bring him from Internacional. That signing was made at the request of Marcelo Gallardo. However, Bustos failed to establish himself in the second half of that year. The situation worsened with the return of Gonzalo Montiel at the start of 2025, after which Gallardo deemed the player expendable.
Why didn't it work out at River?
Fabricio Bustos arrived in Núñez with the mission of replacing Gonzalo Montiel. His signing generated expectations, but his performances were inconsistent. In total, he played 53 matches for River and registered two assists. His most notable moment was the Apertura final against Belgrano at the Kempes, where he played the full 90 minutes due to an injury to Montiel. But it wasn't enough to earn a permanent spot.
The coach who managed him in Brazil, Eduardo Coudet, had him under his orders from July 2023 until the transfer to River. Even so, adaptation to Argentine football and the club's high demands did not materialize. The arrival of Uruguayan Giovanni González in the last transfer window sealed his departure.
What is the team's current context?
River Plate faces this situation during a period of recovery in the Liga Profesional. After an irregular start, the team is on a three-game winning streak and sits tenth in the table with 10 points. Their last result was a convincing 3-1 win over Independiente Rivadavia on September 6th. With 10 goals scored and 9 conceded, the team aims to close the 7-point gap to leaders Argentinos Juniors.
The next challenge is a key match against fourth-placed Atlético Tucumán on September 12th. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What about other sidelined players?
Bustos's exit is not the only pending case in the squad. His teammate at the Cantilo training ground, fellow full-back Matías Viña, is also seeking a solution for his future. The Uruguayan, who was called up by Marcelo Bielsa for the last World Cup, arrived on loan from Flamengo.
However, River cannot terminate that loan early. The agreement runs until December and includes an obligation to buy for 4.5 million dollars if the player features in 50% of the matches. If the club decided to cut ties, it would have to pay Viña's salary until the end of the year. Both parties are exploring alternatives for an exit in the coming hours. The squad composition can be reviewed on the official squad list.
What options does Bustos have now?
As the details of the termination are finalized, some interest in the 29-year-old player has emerged. There were talks with Rosario Central. There was also informal interest from MLS side Atlanta United. His contract with River Plate was valid until December 2027, but everything indicates his time at the club is over. The team now focuses on the match against Atlético Tucumán, a direct rival in the fight to climb the standings.
