River Plate is preparing a blockbuster signing for 2026

Marcelo Gallardo will lead a significant squad renewal for the upcoming season.

Javier Parra Peña | 3 Dec 2025 | 00.30
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River Plate's big signing for 2026
River Plate's big signing for 2026

UEFA Champions League
1 X 2
Benfica Napoli
10/12/25 21:00:00
2.30 3.20 3.20

The interest of River Plate in reinforcing their offense in the upcoming January transfer market has gained strength in the last few hours with the name of Gianluca Prestianni, a bet that the club considers a priority to kickstart its rebuilding process.

The board is contemplating ambitious moves and sees in Benfica's young player an opportunity to add immediate impact and long-term potential.

The operation is not simple, but River Plate trusts in progressing with negotiations that involve a loan with a purchase option, a formula that would allow them to compete with interested European clubs. The player and his entourage's willingness sparks optimism in Núñez, especially after a sporting year well below expectations.

River Plate and their offensive plan to reclaim prominence

The need to add talent leads River Plate to focus directly on Prestianni, a 19-year-old forward whom Mourinho has used in specific moments of the season. His two goals and two assists in just 429 minutes reflect an immediate impact when given the opportunity to participate, something that Gallardo aims to replicate in a team that lost its spark in 2025.

The coach believes that Gianluca Prestianni is the kind of player capable of bringing speed, creativity, and offensive aggressiveness to a squad that lacked options. The board, preparing an investment close to 20 million dollars, seeks to get ahead of the competition before his contract situation raises his price again.

River Plate's bomb signing for 2026

Gianluca Prestianni and Gallardo's envisioned role

The potential arrival of Gianluca Prestianni aligns with the goal to rejuvenate every line. The club aims to add a full-back on each side, a dynamic midfielder, an attacking midfielder, and a reference striker to balance a squad that suffered injuries, form slumps, and lacked depth.

The search has specific names: Fausto Vera, with irregular minutes in Brazil, emerges as an option for the midfield. Aníbal Moreno is the priority for the center, while Luciano Gondou is of interest as a forward, although Zenit's conditions complicate a loan. Meanwhile, Echeverri's situation and desire to return open an unexpected opportunity.

Semantic variation: the millionaire squad and their offensive tactics

Gallardo's interest in adding young players aligns with reactivating the intensity of the millionaire squad. In this scheme, Gianluca Prestianni fits as a winger who can enhance the attack from day one, whether by dribbling, breaking lines, or linking up with the attacking midfielders joining the team. The Argentine player's potential, combined with his desire for regular playtime, makes River Plate view the negotiation as a strategic opportunity. The presence of European competitors necessitates speeding up the process, but the player's willingness could tip the scales if Benfica accepts the proposed formula.

River Plate sees this transfer window as crucial after a disappointing 2025 that left the club without titles and in need of rebuilding trust. Therefore, the effort focuses on experienced names and emerging talents capable of transforming the team's offensive style. Gianluca Prestianni's potential addition is seen as the first step in a profound restructuring. River Plate understands that January will be decisive to compete again in Argentine football and regain a level befitting its history, hence the push for a player representing speed, imbalance, and future.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El fichaje bomba que prepara River Plate para 2026