Tech
Jun 17, 20261
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River Plate Plans to Keep Kevin Castaño Amid Transfer Speculation
River Plate has decided to keep Kevin Castaño despite speculation that Saudi clubs could sign him after an inconsistent season. The midfielder will miss pre-season because of Colombia's World Cup commitments but is expected to return to River once the tournament ends.
Quick Facts
Who
Kevin Castaño
What
River Plate decided not to sell Kevin Castaño
When
during the 2026 season
Where
River Plate
- River Plate decided not to sell Kevin Castaño
- Saudi clubs reportedly made offers for Castaño
- River said Castaño will rejoin training after Colombia's World Cup participation
- Castaño is set to miss pre-season training in Alicante
- Reports described Castaño as a regular substitute during parts of the season
River Plate has decided to keep Kevin Castaño despite months of speculation about his future after an uneven season. The Colombian midfielder started brightly, but his performances later dipped and he spent much of the campaign on the bench, prompting talk that the club could sell him.
According to reports and a club statement, teams from Saudi Arabia had shown interest and were prepared to pay a substantial fee, but River opted against a transfer. The club is instead expected to retain the 2028 contract of the 24-year-old, whose arrival from Cruz Azul and Krasnodar reportedly made him River Plate's most expensive signing.
River said Castaño will miss the team's pre-season work in Alicante, Spain, because of his international duties with Colombia. The club stated that he will rejoin training once his national team finishes its World Cup involvement, indicating that River still sees him as part of its plans.
The decision comes as Castaño also faces competition for a place in Colombia's midfield, where several established names are ahead of him. For River, keeping him preserves a major investment; for the player, improved consistency could raise his value and strengthen his position both at the club and in the transfer market.
Why This Matters
River Plate retaining Castaño signals the club is willing to protect a major investment rather than cut losses after one uneven season. For fans and analysts, it means River is betting on a player who can still rebound in value, while the transfer speculation also shows that his market remains active—useful context for following future bids, lineup decisions, and Colombia’s squad management during international duty.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 17, 2026
WireDeportes RCN reported that River Plate had decided to keep Castaño and confirmed he would rejoin training after his World Cup duty.
Jun 20, 2026
WireRiver Plate is scheduled to begin pre-season training in Alicante, Spain.