Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Páez has left Club Atlético River Plate after terminating his contract this Friday. His departure ends a loan spell that failed to meet expectations and which Chelsea, his parent club, decided to cut short in this transfer window.
Why did Kendry Páez leave River?
Páez's exit was triggered by a clause in the loan agreement. Olé detailed that the player did not reach 50% of appearances in official matches during the first half of the year. This condition allowed Chelsea to exercise a recall option, which they used to take the 18-year-old back and find him a new destination with more playing time. The original loan deal was set until June 30, 2027.
His stint in Núñez was underwhelming. The youngster, developed at Independiente del Valle, scored just one goal, specifically against Aldosivi at the Monumental. After being marginalized from the team, his release did not pose a financial difficulty for River, unlike other cases in the squad. Chelsea is now managing his relocation, with inquiries from clubs in the Premier League, the English Championship, and Turkish side Trabzonspor.
What did Franco Fagúndez say after eliminating River?
On another note, Uruguayan forward Franco Fagúndez, who scored the equalizer for Independiente Santa Fe that led to River's elimination from the Copa Sudamericana, made a personal revelation. In statements to TyC Sports reported by El Comercio, Fagúndez said he went through a period of depression during 2025. "I went through a lot of things. A year ago I was depressed, it wasn't a good year." the player confessed.
He recounted that he had never spoken so directly about that period, which included dark thoughts and an accumulation of personal and footballing problems. His testimony went beyond sports after being a key piece in knocking River out of the continental competition in a penalty shootout.
What is Leonardo Ponzio's new role?
Within the club, Leonardo Ponzio has taken interim charge of the team following the departure of Eduardo Coudet. Ponzio already held an important role since 2022 as part of the Technical Secretariat alongside Enzo Francescoli. His duties included close monitoring of all youth categories and the professional squad, giving him deep knowledge of each player's abilities.
That prior experience is an advantage for his interim tenure. He knows first-hand which youth players have the conditions to make the jump and also the work behind recent signings. His first training session as head coach has already taken place, marking the start of this transitional period in charge of the team.
The team's current context is complex. River Plate sits 14th in the Liga Profesional Argentina, with 4 points from 6 matches. Their record shows 4 goals scored and 6 conceded. However, their last four outings show an unbeaten run (two wins and two draws), including the 2-2 draw against Vélez Sarsfield on August 23. The next challenge is an away match against Banfield on August 30, a rival sitting 11th in the table. To follow the team's progress, fans can check our fixtures and standings.
