Maximiliano Salas will not be available for Independiente Rivadavia in their match against Club Atlético River Plate this Sunday due to an economic clause. A high-ranking official from the Mendoza club confirmed to Clarín Deportes that they will not pay the required USD for the forward, on loan from River, to face his former team.
The match is part of the eighth round of Zone B in the Torneo Clausura and will mark Leonardo Ponzio's debut as River Plate's head coach at the Monumental stadium. River, currently 11th in the Liga Profesional with 7 points, needs the win to build confidence and cut the 9-point gap to leaders Argentinos JRS. A victory would also improve their chances of qualifying for the 2027 Copa Libertadores.
Why can't Salas play against River?
There is no legal impediment preventing Maximiliano Salas from playing against River Plate. The clause that previously barred loaned players from facing their parent club was declared null by the CCT 557/09 collective labor agreement, which prioritizes footballers' labor rights. However, the loan agreement between River Plate and Independiente Rivadavia includes a financial penalty.
Both clubs confirmed to Clarín that if Salas played, Independiente Rivadavia would have to pay River Plate USD. This figure is a penalty clause, not a playing prohibition. The obligation falls on the club, not the player, and FIFA prohibits clubs from influencing another club's sporting decisions via contract. The payment represents a financial cost, not an incapacity to field him.
What did Independiente Rivadavia's coach say?
Alfredo Berti, the head coach of Independiente Rivadavia, aligned himself with the club's decision. In statements to Dsports, Berti noted: “At the time they told me there was a clause, so we won't waste energy on issues that don't concern coaches.”
The club's stance is clear and avoids a significant outlay. Independiente Rivadavia, one of the leaders in the annual table, prefers to do without Salas rather than incur the expense. The forward was loaned for one year at no cost, with an option to buy 50% of his registration for USD, and the Mendoza club covers his salary during the loan.
Are there precedents for similar clauses at River?
Yes, River Plate has used a similar clause in the past. In 2019, they included an identical condition in the loan agreement for Carlos Auzqui to Lanús. On that occasion, the club decided to pay the USD to be able to use the player in the match against River. This precedent shows the mechanism is known and has been applied before.
Salas's situation originated after he was one of 14 players set aside at River Plate's Cantilo training ground, a move that the club's president, Stefano Di Carlo, later admitted was a mistake. Salas expressed dissatisfaction with his treatment before his departure, having made 37 appearances and scored 7 goals for the millionaires.
What is Salas's form heading into this match?
Maximiliano Salas has been gaining competitive rhythm at Independiente Rivadavia. So far, he has accumulated 474 minutes across seven games, although he has not scored goals or provided assists. His involvement increased progressively after his arrival, including an almost full performance in the Libertadores series against Fluminense, where he missed only 11 minutes in the first leg.
Last weekend, the forward played 68 minutes in the match against Racing. His absence this Sunday will force Alfredo Berti to reconfigure his attack against a River Plate side coming off an important 3-2 win over Banfield on August 30, but showing irregular form with just one win in their last five matches. Ponzio's team's next fixture, which you can track on our fixtures page, is precisely this clash against sixth-placed Independiente Rivadavia on September 6.
