Matías Viña Leaves River by Coudet’s Decision and Will Return to Flamengo

River Plate has begun a major squad clear-out ahead of the second half of the year, following the club’s earlier announcement from president Stefano Di Carlo. One of the first confirmed departures will be left-back Matías Viña, who is currently away with Uruguay at the World Cup. According to journalist Hernán Castillo, River will terminate Viña’s loan in the coming days, ending his stint at the club and sending him back to Flamengo, the Brazilian side that owns his rights and will decide his next move.

Viña’s loan was originally set to run until December of this year, but River has opted to cut it short as part of its broader restructuring plan. The 28-year-old was one of Marcelo Gallardo’s choices at the start of the 2026 season, but his time in Buenos Aires has not delivered the expected impact. Since joining River, Viña has played 14 official matches and did not score any goals. His spell, however, included one unusual and memorable moment: he briefly put on goalkeeper gloves during a Copa Sudamericana match in Venezuela, when River earned a last-minute win over Carabobo thanks to a goal from Maximiliano Salas.

Despite reports suggesting an imminent departure, sources close to the player told La Página Millonaria that neither Viña nor his representative has yet received official notice of River’s decision. Even so, the possibility remains that the club has already made the call internally and will formalize the termination in the coming days. Viña’s performances were uneven throughout his stay. He began the year at a low level, struggled to settle into the team, and only improved slightly toward the end of the semester.

River’s personnel changes will not stop there. Another player expected to leave is Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Páez, who was also on loan at the club from Chelsea. After an internal review, River decided that Páez will not continue wearing the red sash and will return to look for opportunities elsewhere. His future will again be tied to Chelsea’s broader player network, where he is expected to continue his development.

The moves reflect River’s intention to reshape the squad quickly and decisively before the next phase of the season. With several players no longer in the club’s plans, the coming days are expected to bring more confirmed exits as River continues its overhaul.