Since January 1, the gifted Colombian attacker has been a free agent, as the club cannot extend his contract under current terms.
The second phase of Juan Fernando Quintero’s stint with River ends in a way that neither side wanted. It is clear that coach Martín Demichelis hoped to retain the author of the second goal in Madrid, and that, beyond not accepting proposals within the club’s reach, the Colombian player wished to keep the team and the number 10 jersey.
So why, if everyone desired continuity, is it not possible? December 31, 2022 marks not only the end of the calendar year but also the end of Quintero’s time with River, which followed lengthy negotiations with Shenzhen, the Chinese club. Shenzhen initially offered a one-year deal with two purchase options of 2.5 and 4 million dollars, for 50% and 100% of the player’s rights, respectively. Yet the player publicly stated that he severed ties with the Asian club due to an outstanding debt and subsequently pursued a FIFA ruling while awaiting a favorable decision.
Everything seemed straightforward with the player’s pass in hand, but a major hurdle emerged: the rules of the Argentine economy. Due to the Central Bank’s currency controls, River and another entity faced restrictions on paying an individual in dollars who is registered as an employee in the country.
Thus, even with the sales proceeds from Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández, a dollarized salary could not be paid at the official exchange rate without losses, and using the “blue” rate posed the risk of triggering wider financial repercussions within the squad. To illustrate, each dollar earned at the official rate translates to about 175 pesos, whereas the parallel market rate approaches 350 pesos, effectively halving the player’s take-home pay. Using Shenzhen as an intermediary to complete the pass was not viable either, as the economic rights were not aligned due to the aforementioned constraints.
No clear solution emerged as Juanfer Quintero entered 2023 as a free agent, while River faced a forced farewell to one of its most talented players and the author of a campaign that stands as one of the club’s most pivotal moments.