Villa wants to join River, reveals current ties with Riquelme

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La Número 12

·6 January 2026

Villa wants to join River, reveals current ties with Riquelme

The Colombian Sebastián Villa broke his silence and spoke about the transfer market rumors. The forward is being considered as a concrete possibility to strengthen River Plate at the request of Marcelo Gallardo himself, and for that reason he was asked about it. He stated that he “would like to play for River.”

“I have seen the interest and, together with my agent, we have decided, as I told him, that I would like to play for River. Let's hope that the president and the parties can reach an agreement. We know what River is, and if this opportunity comes, I will make the most of it,” began the former Boca player.

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Regarding his future, he assured that he has an agreement with Daniel Villa, president of Independiente Rivadavia, to be transferred: “We reached an agreement that I would leave the club, that I would not stay for another six months. I kept my word, I made the team champions, we got the team into the Copa Libertadores, I kept my promise to stay those six months in Mendoza and I think it’s time to grow and this is the right moment.”

The Colombian will leave Independiente Rivadavia.

Then came the moment to refer to his time at Xeneize: “My time at Boca is in the past, there are many things I keep to myself because I’m not the kind of guy who speaks badly about people. I’m focused on my present and if I get the chance to go to River, I will give everything just as I did at Independiente Rivadavia and as I did in Bulgaria, because everyone knows I’m a fan of Atlético Nacional de Medellín.”

On the other hand, in a playful segment on the show ‘El que ríe último’ with the famous phrase “if Román calls you,” it was used to ask him about Marcelo Gallardo and what he would do if Gallardo actually called him to wear the River shirt: “If he calls me, I’ll travel tomorrow.”

Villa spoke about his relationship with Riquelme

The Colombian explained how his relationship with the Boca president ended: “With Riquelme, the relationship did not end well for various reasons, but if I have to shake his hand, I have no problem doing so because I’m not a resentful person, I’m a very noble guy with a big heart. Boca is in the past and now I’m thinking about the future.”

Villa and Riquelme.

Between the 2018-19 season and 2023, the forward played 172 official matches wearing the Xeneize shirt, scoring 29 goals and providing 33 assists. He won seven titles with the blue and gold club. He left by unilaterally breaking his contract and sued the club after being sentenced to two years and one month of non-custodial prison for “minor injuries aggravated by the relationship and for gender-based violence and coercive threats” against Daniela Cortés.