With several centre-backs set to leave, River target Zaid Romero | OneFootball

After the shock of the defeat in Córdoba against Belgrano, which left them on the brink of the title, River will wrap up its official participation in the first half of the year tonight against Blooming in the Copa Sudamericana. The next step at the club will be trimming down a very worn-out squad, with several departures and quite a few arrivals. Among those leaving, several center backs are expected to go, which is why the club has already made its first moves to try to lure Zaid Romero.

The 26-year-old defender has just finished his six-month loan at Getafe and must return to Club Brugge, the club that owns his rights. After a good half-season in Spanish football, where he found the continuity he had lost upon arriving in Belgium, the Mendoza native is waiting to see what comes next. In that context, a call from Eduardo Coudet’s own camp to him and his agent opens the door to a return to Argentine football.

At a time when no concrete squad moves have yet been made, River are well aware that several defenders could leave. With Paulo Díaz back in the shop window, offers are expected for Lautaro Rivero, and Germán Pezzella’s future at the club is highly uncertain. Coudet is willing to let all three go, and although Nicolás Otamendi’s arrival is almost a done deal, if that happens the squad would be left very short in that position.

Besides the world champion, who would arrive on a free from Benfica after the Club World Cup, only Lucas Martínez Quarta and Tobías Ramírez—currently recovering from meniscus surgery—would remain. That is why Coudet has already asked for a center back, and Romero’s name is at the top of the list. A left-footed defender standing 1.92 meters tall (if Rivero leaves, he would be the only natural “No. 6”), he is currently valued at around €2.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. In any case, it remains to be seen whether River will instead seek a loan with an obligation to buy in order to delay payment.

A product of Godoy Cruz’s youth academy, Romero had a loan spell at Villa Dálmine and another at Liga de Quito before landing at Estudiantes and establishing himself as a center back bound for Europe. With El Pincha, he played 63 matches, scored four goals, and won the 2023 Copa Argentina and the 2024 Copa de la Liga. Club Brugge signed him for nearly seven million dollars, but he was unable to establish himself there.

Getafe emerged as his new destination at the start of 2026, and there Zaid Romero was able to relaunch his career after his time on the sidelines in Belgium. In six months, he played half of the La Liga schedule: he featured in 15 full matches (1 goal) and missed four, one due to suspension (he was sent off for two yellow cards). Now, with the obligation to return to Club Brugge, River appears as a possible new destination.

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