What’s Happening to Marcelo Gallardo’s River Plate in 2025?
Failed signings, tactical decline, and what comes next
Eliminated in the group stage of the Club World Cup. No clear tactical response in the domestic league. Coach-requested signings that have failed to deliver. And for the first time since his return, Marcelo Gallardo is under internal fire. River Plate finds itself in the most difficult stretch of Gallardo’s second era at the club. And the questions are no longer just about the players. Is this a structural failure of the model? Is it the end of an idea or just a temporary drop?
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A Collective Crisis: Possession Without Penetration
River continues to dominate possession in most matches, often hovering around 60%. However, this control rarely translates into meaningful chances. The team struggles to break lines, looks predictable in the final third, and becomes vulnerable when it loses the ball.
Recent injuries to players like Sebastián Driussi (ankle) and Agustín Ruberto (ACL) have stripped the team of attacking depth, pace, and improvisation. Without them, Gallardo has had to rely on veterans who no longer possess the explosiveness required for his high-intensity system.
Tactically, River looks disconnected. The midfield lacks verticality, and the pressing schemes that once defined Gallardo’s best sides now appear disorganized. Opponents sit back, absorb pressure, and exploit River’s structural gaps on the counter.
Failed Signings: Misreading the Market?
River’s recent transfer strategy—centered on bringing back former club idols—hasn’t paid off. Germán Pezzella and Lucas Martínez Quarta were brought in to stabilize the defense, but both have struggled with fitness and consistency. Pezzella’s lack of pace is regularly exposed, while Quarta hasn’t regained his pre-Europe level.
In midfield, Enzo Pérez and Matías Kranevitter offer experience but little physicality. Neither has been able to dictate tempo or cover ground as Gallardo’s system requires. Manuel Lanzini still possesses elite technique, but lacks the explosiveness to consistently influence matches.
Matías Rojas has delivered moments of brilliance—mostly from set pieces—but has failed to fully adapt to River’s tempo and structure. Gonzalo Tapia, signed for over $1 million, has not adapted since his arrival. With just seven appearances in 2025, he has yet to justify the investment or carve out a role in the rotation.
Is the Youth Pipeline Running Dry?
River’s academy has long been a factory of talent—from Javier Saviola to Julián Álvarez to Enzo Fernández. But in 2025, the flow has slowed. Despite high expectations, few youth players have broken through. Ian Subiabre has shown flashes but lacks consistency. Ruberto’s injury halted his rise, and Franco Mastantuono—the brightest of the lot—is now in Real Madrid’s system after his €45 million release clause was activated.
Gallardo is now left with limited internal solutions. Some critics argue that the return of veterans has blocked youth pathways. Others believe the pressure to win immediately has made Gallardo more conservative in his selections. Either way, the balance between experience and youth—the core of River’s identity—has been lost.
How Can River Resurge?
River seems determined to rebuild intelligently. They’ve already set their sights on Maximiliano Salas from Racing, triggering his €8 million release clause to strengthen the attack after Mastantuono’s departure. Salas brings versatility, finishing, and vertical movement to a forward line that needs urgency.
In midfield, River clearly needs at least two signings to accompany Kevin Castaño. One of the main targets has to be Marcelino Moreno, the dynamic Lanús midfielder who can operate centrally or wide and add much-needed creativity. But the squad also needs a box-to-box profile—a midfielder with stamina, physicality, and transitions—though no specific name has yet emerged publicly. At the back, a younger, faster center-back is being sought to complement the leadership of Pezzella and Quarta, both of whom lack recovery speed.
With the €45 million received from Mastantuono’s transfer, River now has financial room to maneuver. Smart investment, paired with the reintegration of youth like Subiabre and a possible return of Ruberto later this year, could help Gallardo reshape River into a more balanced, modern side. It’s not yet the end of the Gallardo model—but it’s a clear signal that a new chapter must begin.
By: Gonzalo Hernández Más / @TVGranate
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Marcelo Endelli / Getty Images