Viña criticises River, thanks Flamengo and explains Cruzeiro move | OneFootball

“What happened is very, very complicated. I think that, sometime from now, I’ll write something on my social media to explain everything that happened. But I want to thank the River fans, River Plate, the institution. The disagreement, what happened, was because of a contract issue. I was always professional there too; whenever the team needed me, I was available. As I said before, I don’t think I started in the best way, but my spell after that was very good. So much so that I went to the Copa. No one there — and when I say no one, I mean Mr. Ricardo and Enzo Francesco — told me anything about the situation I would go through afterward. And then all the obstacles came up for me to leave. I was willing to terminate the contract and return to Brazil. I also thank Flamengo, because they were always willing to help resolve the situation I was living through there, which was very bad. But River wouldn’t accept many things, couldn’t reach an agreement with Flamengo, and I couldn’t get out of there. So much so that everything was resolved on the last day of the window.”

“It was a difficult moment. It was two months in which I wasn’t playing, I had no physiotherapy, no gym, I had nothing. I had to train at home, set up a routine. I thank the coach and the fitness trainer of the national team, who helped me a lot during that period so I could keep going and have a foundation for everything that was happening. They helped me a lot.”

“First of all, I’m very happy to be here. From the very first moment I arrived, the fans, through messages, already embraced me a lot. I thank them as well. I’m very grateful to everyone in the day-to-day. I’ve only been here at the club for three days, and I’ve been very impressed by the training center, the organization within the club. I want to thank my teammates, the staff, and everyone who works here at the training center for the welcome. From the very first moment, they treated me like one of you.”

“Honestly, I was very surprised by the club’s structure and also by the working environment. I didn’t know Arthur. I knew about the period he had at Botafogo, because I was here in Brazil. But on the first day, I already started talking about a few things with him. I felt very comfortable with the training sessions, with my teammates, and with everything. As I said, I’m very happy to be here.”

“Obviously, I want to respect the contract I have here until December. But my mindset is always to look ahead, try to give my all here so that, obviously, I can stay and help Cruzeiro.”

“I think the Brazilian Championship is very difficult. I’ve already played, as you said, for other teams. So I think the first ten and the last ten matches of the championship make the difference. What remains of the year and what the club has ahead is, obviously, to secure a Libertadores spot. We have a great squad and a great team here to achieve that.”

“If I didn’t have that pressure, I’d be playing somewhere that doesn’t have pressure. Where there is pressure, it’s because the team is very big and needs to win. So the moment Cruzeiro is living is understandable. With that pressure, obviously, we’re going to improve and try to do our best. The focus, as I said, is the Libertadores next year and thinking from here on out to help Cruzeiro as much as possible.”

“I think, in the position, there’s not much difference. We’re guys who are here to help Cruzeiro. Me fighting for the spot, Gabi also fighting for the spot, even Villalba as well. That’s going to help each of us grow, not only those of us at left-back, but in every situation on the field.” Viña also spoke about the serious injury he suffered in 2024, when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and fractured his tibia. According to him, the recovery has been completed and there has been no change in his way of playing.

“Looking at everything people say about the injury, yes, it was serious. I came back after nine and a half months, but I came back the same way. I feel very good. I also want to thank everyone who worked with me at that moment, during that period, who helped me a lot so I could be here and come back in the best way.”

“When I came back, the year was almost over. There were four or five months left in the Brazilian Championship. I had two left-backs ahead of me, like Alex Sandro and Ayrton Lucas. And then the World Cup was coming. I tried to leave, to seek continuity, and I played 14 matches for River. I went through the situation I mentioned a little while ago. And now the focus is on Cruzeiro, giving my best, working day by day to be ready to play for the team.”

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