Club Atlético River Plate is experiencing a week of financial movements and farewells, with the departure of Joaquín Freitas and a new multi-million income from Enzo Fernández. The 19-year-old forward officially bid farewell to the club through an Instagram letter while the Argentine midfielder will generate another dividend for the Millionaire's coffers.
How did Joaquín Freitas say goodbye to River?
Joaquín Freitas shared an emotional message on his Instagram account one day after being presented as Flamengo's new player. The young forward, whose transfer could reach 15 million dollars with included objectives, expressed his gratitude towards the club that developed him from the youth academy. "I didn't think I'd be writing this at this moment," began the letter picked up by Ole publication.
In his farewell, Freitas thanked teammates, coaching staff, collaborators and directors for the treatment received during his time at the club. The 19-year-old footballer, who signed with Flamengo until the end of 2031, stated he made the decision thinking about what's best for both parties. "I leave peacefully knowing I gave everything whenever I wore this shirt and defended it with my heart," he added in his message especially directed at River Plate fans.
How much money will River receive for Enzo Fernández?
Enzo Fernández's transfer from Chelsea to Manchester City for 146 million euros will generate another significant income for River Plate. According to details reported by Ole, the club from Núñez will receive 3.37% of that transfer through the solidarity mechanism. This figure represents approximately 4,920,000 euros that River will collect as different installments of the operation are paid.
This amount adds to previous income the club had already obtained from the Argentine midfielder's transfer. The negotiation strategy implemented in mid-2022, when River retained 25% of his rights in the sale to Benfica, has proven extraordinarily profitable. With this new payment, the total Enzo Fernández has generated for the club exceeds 57 million euros between transfers and solidarity percentages.
What is River's sporting situation?
While processing these market movements, River Plate faces a complicated moment in the Liga Profesional Argentina. The team sits in eleventh position with 7 points from 7 matches, recording 2 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses. On the standings table, the Millionaire trails leader Argentinos Juniors by 9 points.
The goal difference also shows difficulties, with 7 scored and 8 conceded for a -1 differential. The last victory came on August 30 against Banfield 3-2, but the team has accumulated a streak of 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses in its last five matches. This Saturday, September 6, River will host Independiente Rivadavia, sixth in the table, in a key match to improve their position. Details of the next match are available on our fixtures page.
What does this income mean for the club?
The nearly 5 million euros entering through Enzo Fernández's solidarity mechanism represent important financial relief for River Plate. This amount is slightly less than the 6.7 million dollars the club must pay for the purchase obligation of 54% of Lucas Beltrán's rights. The continuity of these incomes from players developed at the club allows maintaining stable foreign currency economics.
The policy of retaining percentages in sales of young talents has proven to be a successful strategy for the club. Enzo Fernández's case is the clearest example, where the decision to accept less initial money in exchange for keeping part of his rights has multiplied benefits over time. These fresh resources arrive at a moment when the team needs reinforcement to improve its performance in the local competition, as can be analyzed in our detailed stats. The current squad, available in squad, will seek to correct course against Independiente Rivadavia this Saturday at the Monumental.
