Matías Galarza Fonda left River Plate to become a teammate of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami after an unremarkable spell at Núñez. The Paraguayan midfielder was sent on loan to the Florida club until the end of the 2026 MLS season, with a purchase option included in the deal.
How did Galarza Fonda arrive at River Plate and why didn’t he break through?
Matías Galarza Fonda joined River Plate in mid-2025 from Talleres as a gamble by Marcelo Gallardo to strengthen the midfield. However, his stint was limited: he made 14 appearances without scoring a goal or providing an assist before the end of the year. An error against Racing contributed to River’s elimination in the Torneo Clausura, marking a turning point in his relationship with the club.
What happened after his spell at Atlanta United?
Following an underwhelming semester, Galarza Fonda was loaned to Atlanta United, where he also failed to establish himself. After that loan ended, he was due to return to River Plate, but the club decided not to count on him and had him train separately at the Cantilo facility by managerial decision. The situation worsened when, from Paraguay, the player posted Instagram images of a penalty shootout against Manuel Neuer during the World Cup, seen as mockery after River’s penalty shootout loss to Eduardo Coudet’s team in the Copa Sudamericana.
How did the World Cup change his situation?
Matías Galarza Fonda’s performances for Paraguay at the last World Cup gave him renewed visibility: he scored one goal and provided one assist in the campaign that reached the round of 16. That form put him on the radar of clubs like Juventus, Olimpia and Cerro Porteño, though no talks progressed to a formal agreement. Estudiantes de La Plata pursued him on the final day of negotiations, but he chose to return to the United States.
What did Inter Miami say about his arrival?
Inter Miami confirmed the loan signing of Matías Galarza Fonda on Thursday, before the close of their secondary transfer window. The club welcomed him with the message: "Talento paraguayo en Miami. ¡Bienvenido, Matías!", highlighting his international experience and his Paraguay national team showing at the World Cup. They also noted his versatility in midfield and his experience in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
What are the financial details of the agreement?
According to information surrounding the negotiation, the loan includes a purchase option of three million dollars for 50% of the pass, which may become mandatory if certain objectives are met. River Plate owns 70% of Matías Galarza Fonda’s economic rights, while Talleres retains the remaining 30%. The player will join the squad after receiving his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 visa.
How does this departure affect River Plate’s squad? The departure of Matías Galarza Fonda, added to that of Giuliano Galoppo previously to Atlanta United, reduced the number of players still training apart at Cantilo to two: the fullbacks Fabricio Bustos and Matías Viña. Bustos belongs to River Plate and has a contract until December 2027. During the transfer window, there were talks with Independiente and Rosario Central, plus inquiries from abroad, but no agreement was reached before the close of the Argentine window.
River Plate currently sits 11th in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 7 points from 2 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses in 7 games, with a goal difference of -1 (7 scored, 8 conceded). They are 9 points behind leaders Argentinos Juniors and have recorded a recent form of 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in their last four matches (WDWL, most recent first). Their last result was a 3-2 victory over Banfield on August 30, 2026, and their next fixture is a home match against Independiente Rivadavia on September 6, 2026.
