Who is Richard Rios? Everything Inter and Roma should know | OneFootball

Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios continues to attract interest from a number of high profile clubs across Europe, including Roma, Inter and most recently Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Here is everything supporters should know about the Colombian and his career to date.

Rios: Career to date

Born in Vegachí, Rios grew up playing futsal rather than football at a competitive level. A shorter and smaller-sided but more intense game, futsal is said to have helped Rios develop his technique and ability to play in tight spaces.

Rios was invited to trial with Brazilian Serie A side Flamengo after impressing at the South American U20 Futsal championships in 2018.

That trial led to a training contract with Flamengo’s youth team, and later a professional deal by the year 2020.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 28: Richard Rios #8 of Palmeiras reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between SE Palmeiras and Botafogo FR at Lincoln Financial Field on June 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

From there, the 25-year-old has had a fairly rapid progression through the ranks. He would go on to earn a handful of appearances in the Flamengo first-team in 2020, partly thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak within the first-team squad.

He was later allowed to leave on loan to Mexican side Mazaltan, who decided against activating their $1m option to buy clause following a knee injury that kept Rios out of action for around seven months between September 2021 and April 2022.

Rios would later terminate his contract with Flamengo, which allowed him to join Brazilian Serie B side Guarani on a permanent basis. Impressing over his 20 appearances across all competitions, Rios went on to earn a move back to the Brazilian top flight with Palmeiras, where he remains to this day.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 28: #8 of Palmeiras controls the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between SE Palmeiras and Botafogo FR at Lincoln Financial Field on June 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Rios has since won the 2023 Serie A title with Palmeiras, and has also represented the Sao Paulo side at the recent FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where he left a lasting impression on a number of European sides.

Palmeiras, however, only own 70% of Rios’s rights, which makes a move away from the Brazilian side slightly more complicated than usual.

Key facts, stats and numbers

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JUNE 23: Richard Rios #8 of Palmeiras walks out of the tunnel prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Internacional CF Miami and SE Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

As things stand in 2025, Rios has averaged a pass completion rate of 86.9% across all competitions, and has provided four goals, four assists and has laid on 26 key passes from those 35 matches.

He is also averaging just shy of two tackles per match in 2025 (1.94 to be precise) and just over one interception per game (1.05).

Despite being known for his dribbling abilities and his play in tight spaces, Rios has also posted impressive long-ball numbers this year, with a completion rate of 72.8% across all competitions.