Estudiantes' stance on a possible Santiago Ascacíbar move to River | OneFootball

With just under a month to go before the transfer window opens in Argentina, Marcelo Gallardo has drawn up a list of reinforcements for River looking ahead to 2026. Among the most high-profile names is Santiago Ascacíbar, captain and star of Estudiantes. According to TyC Sports, the Pincha have already made their stance clear regarding a possible sale of the 28-year-old midfielder to the Núñez club.

River had already shown interest in the “Ruso” earlier this year, and even Enzo Pérez, his former teammate in 2024, did everything possible to convince him. However, Estudiantes were surprised by the recent contact from Mariano Barnao (a trusted associate of Gallardo) and Ascacíbar’s agent, as the relationship between the two clubs had not ended on good terms.

The last straw was the recall of Sebastián Boselli, a key player for Eduardo Domínguez, just hours before Estudiantes were set to play the Supercopa Internacional against Vélez in July. But a few days earlier, when Marcelo Gallardo was asked about the tactical approach he used against Barcelona in the 2015 Club World Cup and it was compared to Alejandro Sabella’s in 2009, the “Muñeco” said that at León there is “another culture”—a statement that was interpreted within the Estudiantes camp as a form of disrespect.

Furthermore, in February of this year, when the agreement between Estudiantes and Foster Gillett was a hot topic in football circles, Stefano Di Carlo, now River’s president and then general secretary, took aim at Juan Sebastián Verón, saying that “everything he says or does generates distrust.”

Additionally, many of the Pincha’s directors are not convinced about strengthening a rival with a player of Ascacíbar’s caliber, which is why they would prefer that, if he leaves, the sale be to a foreign club. In this regard, there have been some inquiries from Brazil, the United States, and Europe. The club would be willing to let him go for five million dollars. It’s worth noting that his contract runs until December 2027.

Until Estudiantes finish their participation in the Torneo Clausura (they play the semifinals against Gimnasia on Monday at 5 p.m.), there won’t be many updates regarding the player’s future, as he is currently 100% focused on winning his fourth title with the club.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.