Buenos Aires, Argentina – June 1st 2010

It is no secret that River Plate is going through some tough times, but as a club and as an institution. Daniel Passarella, president of the institution, decided not to travel to South Africa in his role of Vice President of AFA to remain in Buenos Aires and fix some of the problems in the club.

The main objective was to bring the Juventus-duo; Trezeguet and Camoranessi. However, the financial problems of the club did not allow negotiations to go through. The same financial problems have stuck the negotiations for Juan Pablo Carrizo, Mario Bolatti and Matias DeFederico.

In order to re-strengthen the squad, River started looking for players on a loan basis. The first three players that could sign for “El Millonario” this season are Josepmir Ballon, Leandro Caruso and Marcos Perez.

River and the Universidad de San Martin de Porres have already agreed on the transfer of the Peruvian International Josepmir Ballon. Initially, Ballon would arrive to River on a year loan for U$250,000, with the option of acquiring 50% of the player’s rights after the loan is over for U$750,000. “His arrival will only depend on an agreement between the player and the club” said Alvaro Barco, general director of the USMP. The 22 year old midfielder comes to the club to contest Matias Almeyda, captain and idol of the club.



Leandro Caruso admitted today that negotiations with River Plate are in progress, and that he expects to have positive feedback in the next few days. During an interview with Argentine media giant TyC Sports, Caruso admitted contact with both Daniel Passarella and Angel Cappa. Caruso, is expected to return to Italy to join Udinese for pre-season, however the interest from River Plate could change things, especially considering the fact that the Italian club is after several River Plate youngsters. Initially he would also arrive to the club on loan for one year.



The revelation of the Clausura 2010 was Marcos Perez. The Colombian International was key for Gimnasia LP to remain in first division. In the last couple of weeks his name had been linked to clubs like Boca Juniors, and Estudiantes de La Plata. However, Daniel Passarella has taken the necessary measures to contact Full Play, the company that manages his rights and a loan is already being negotiated. Perez would arrive on loan for one year with a buy option of U$2,500,000. If successful Perez would become the third Colombian center forward to join the club (Angel and Falcao). Upon his arrival, Gustavo Canales could depart to Colon de Santa Fe as part of a debt River holds with Colon.



Cappa also requested a goalkeeper, and after making unsuccessful efforts for Juan Pablo Carrizo and Justo Villar, Passarella is going after Gaston Monzon, the young goalkeeper of Huracan. Monzon was part of Cappa’s famous Huracan that gave birth to the tiki-tiki.

River begins to give shape to the new squad; we are 2 months away from the beginning of the Apertura and anything can happen. River may even surprise and brake the market in a surprise signing.

Ballon, Caruso and Perez could sign with River Plate this week

These were some factoids that I came across that show how tight CONMEBOL is and certain tendencies that are becoming present in this qualifier.


Uruguay vs. Brazil

- Brazil is team with least losses (1) and most draws (6)
- Brazil have not won at the Estadio Centenario since 1976.
- Uruguay is the highest scoring team with 21
- Brazil is the best defense on the road (4)


Argentina vs. Colombia
- Argentina have not lost at home in 32 matches. Last loss vs. Colombia in 1993.
- Colombia are the only CONMEBOL team to beat Argentina in Buenos Aires.
- Colombia have not scored a goal in Argentina since 1997. Carlos Valderrama.
- Colombia are winless in their last six away games.
- Colombia have not scored a goal on the road in 443 minutes.
- Colombia's last road win (November 2005 vs. Paraguay)
- Argentina lead series 3-1-1



- Paraguay has most wins (7) overall.

- Chile (2) and Venezuela (1) have least draws

- Chile (14) and Argentina (13) are the two teams presently qualified with the most goals scored on


- Colombia and Peru have only scored on goal on the road in six matches


- Chile is the highest scoring road team (10)


- Venezuela (8th) has conceded less goals on the road (9), than ARG who is currently in 4th (10)

- Uruguay (5th) have won the same amount of matches as Venezuela (8th)- 4

- Paraguay have won all home matches in qualifiers and have conceded only one goal

Tidbits, Tendencies of CONMEBOL Quallies

For MLS fans it was yet another disappointment to see Seattle Sounders star Fredy Montero be snubbed from the from Eduardo Lara's call-up. Giovanni Hernández seems to have his days counted with the national team now that he had his place taken away by Macnelly Torres. Hernández still would not be able to play in Argentina because of tax problems stemming from his days at Colón. Due to that, he would not be allowed entry into Argentina.

The biggest surprise was the addition of Junior's goal scoring phenom Teófilo Gutiérrez. Monaco forward Juan Pablo Pino was called up but as a midfielder in order to add more creation in that sector of the field for the Cafeteros.

Inter's Iván Ramiro Córdoba who returns to the national to "not ask for his spot back, but earn it." Colombia are in sixth place behind Uruguay for the fifth place spot in the CONMEBOL region. They will have a tough task as they head to Buenos Aires and then debut a new home venue in Medellín against last-place Peru.

Goalkeepers:
Agustín Julio (Independiente Santa Fe), David Ospina (Nice-Fra)

Defenders:
Pablo Armero (Palmeiras-Bra), Iván Ramiro Córdoba (Inter-Ita), Mario Yepes (Chievo Verona- Ita), Luis Amaranto Perea (Atlético Madrid-Esp), Christian Zapata (Udinese-Ita), Cámilo Zúñiga (Siena-Ita), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Independiente Medellín)

Midfielders:
Abel Aguilar (Hércules-Esp), Gerardo Bedoya (Millonarios), Freddy Guarín (FC Porto-Por), Vladimir Marín (Libertad-Par), Christian Marrugo (Deportes Tolima), Juan Carlos Toja (Steaua Bucarest-Rou), Macnelly Torres (Colo Colo-Chi), Fabián Vargas (Boca Juniors-Arg), Juan Pablo Pino (Mónaco-Fra), Adrián Ramos (América)

Forwards:
Wason Rentería (Sporting Braga-Por), Radamel Falcao García (River Plate-Arg), Hugo Rodallega (Wigan-Eng), Carlos Darwin Quintero (Santos-Méx), Teófilo Gutiérrez (Junior)

Colombia List For Crucial Matches

MLS got great news today as Seattle Sounder sensation Fredy Montero was placed on Colombia coach Eduardo Lara's "pre-callup" for upcoming World Cup qualifying play against Argentina and Peru in the middle of June.

Montero would be the first player since Carlos Valderrama to be called up from the North American league. His current run of form has caught the eye of the former Cafetero U-20 boss.

Montero, 21, will have to compete for that spot as he will have to be among seven forwards that will be part of Eduardo Lara's struggling offense. He will have to beat out players like River Plate's Radamel Falcao García, Wigan's Hugo Rodallega, Monaco's Juan Pablo Pino, and, Sporting Braga's Wason Rentería, Santos' Carlos Carwin Quintero. He will also have to contend with the needs in midfield that Lara might deem more urgent as well as the chance to promote U-20 standouts Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, Adolfo Valencia, Sebastián Viáfara, and Juan Andrés Bolaños as well as U-17 Cristian Bonilla and Juan Camilo Saíz.

Former MLS player Juan Pablo Toja is also in Lara's list. The former FC Dallas star was never considered for international duty while in the United States. That was an unfortunate bad rap that he obtained after playing only four matches in three years with River Plate.

The Colombian Football Federation will officially release this list Thursday as they begin preparations to visit Argentina in Buenos Aires and will make their first-ever home appearance in the city of Medellín against last-place Peru.

1. ARMERO, Pablo (Palmeiras-Bra)
2. AGUILAR, Abel (Hércules-Esp)
3. CORDOBA, Iván Ramiro (Inter-Ita)
4. CALERO, Miguel (Pachuca-Méx)
5. GUARIN, Freddy (F.C. Porto-Por)
6. FALCAO, Radamel (River Plate-Arg)
7. MARIN, Vladimir (Libertad-Par)
8. MOSQUERA, Jossimar (Arsenal-Arg)
9. MONTERO, Freddy (Seattle-USA)
10. OSPINA, David (Niza-Fra)
11. PEREA, Luís Amaranto (Atlético Madrid-Esp)
12. PINO, Juan Pablo (Mónaco-Fra)
13. QUINTERO, Darwin (Santos-Méx)
14. RENTERIA, Wason (Sporting Braga-Por)
15. RODALLEGA, Hugo (Wigan-Eng)
16. SANCHEZ, Carlos (Valenciannes-Fra)
17. TOJA, Juan Carlos (Steaua Bucarest -Rou)
18. TORRES, Macnelly (Colo Colo-Chi)
19. VARGAS, Fabián (Boca Juniors-Arg)
20. YEPES, Mario (Chievo-Ita)
21. ZAPATA, Cristian (Udinese -Ita)
22. ZAPATA, Robinson (Steaua Bucarest-Rou)
23. ZUÑIGA, Juan Camilo (Siena-Ita)

23 Players "Blocked Out" By Lara