River Plate begins to finalize the first departures of a renewal process that will significantly impact the professional squad. After seven seasons at the club, Paulo Díaz has reached an agreement to terminate his contract early and continue his career in United States football.
The 31-year-old Chilean defender will terminate the contract that bound him to the institution until December 2028 and will join Atlanta United of MLS. In the American team, he will be coached by Gerardo Martino, who is counting on his experience to strengthen the team's defense.
Paulo Díaz's departure marks the end of a long stage at River. The defender arrived at the club in 2019 at the request of Marcelo Gallardo and quickly established himself as an important piece in the team's back line.
During much of his stay, he showed outstanding performance that allowed him to secure a starting position. However, in recent seasons, he lost prominence and was relegated in the consideration of the coaching staff led by Eduardo Coudet.
His time at the institution concludes with significant numbers: he played 222 official matches, scored 13 goals, provided three assists, and won seven titles, becoming one of the foreign players with the most continuity in the club's recent years.
The departure of the Chilean defender represents the first confirmed exit within the group of players currently training separately while the rest of the squad is in preseason in Alicante, Spain.
The management and coaching staff are advancing in a deep restructuring for the second half of the year, with several players who may not continue in the sports project. Among the names on that list are Maximiliano Meza, Germán Pezzella, Fabricio Bustos, Alex Woiski, Maximiliano Salas, Giuliano Galoppo, Santiago Lencina, and Ian Subiabre.
