Latest news with #MarceloGallardo
Asharq Al-Awsat
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Mastantuono's Move to Real Madrid Was Premature, Says River Boss Gallardo
Franco Mastantuono's transfer to Real Madrid came too soon, while the 17-year-old was still developing and pivotal to River Plate's future, said coach Marcelo Gallardo ahead of the Argentine team's Club World Cup match against Monterrey. Gallardo acknowledged Mastantuono's departure will leave a void in his squad after the Spanish giants completed a deal worth around $45 million with River for the teenager earlier this month. For the Argentine manager, the midfielder still needed more time to grow at the club, but he acknowledged the early transfer as an understandable part of modern football. "It's natural, we train players for the world. Everything is happening earlier, young players are leaving faster, and I understand that those are the rules of the game," Gallardo told ESPN on Friday. "Our sporting project for the year was with him. We have to readjust, because there are players who, by their nature, are difficult to replace. "We knew that Mastantuono was going to leave at some point, but fans don't enjoy it that way. The market dictates the timing." Gallardo said he's urging Mastantuono to stay focused on the tournament despite the noise around his move. "All I want is for him to play naturally, to try to forget about everything that's going on, which is very difficult," he said. "I don't talk to him about where he's going to live or anything like that. I want him to play, which is what he knows how to do." River began their Club World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, a result Gallardo described as key to easing early nerves. "We are happy to be able to be in a competition like this, a new one," he said. "I'm excited about how it's going, it was essential to start with a win and get over the nerves. "Now we're preparing for the match in Monterrey, which is a different level of difficulty." Following Saturday's game against the Mexican team in Pasadena, River will face Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday.
CNA
19 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Mastantuono's move to Real Madrid was premature, says River boss Gallardo
Franco Mastantuono's transfer to Real Madrid came too soon, while the 17-year-old was still developing and pivotal to River Plate's future, said coach Marcelo Gallardo ahead of the Argentine team's Club World Cup match against Monterrey. Gallardo acknowledged Mastantuono's departure will leave a void in his squad after the Spanish giants completed a deal worth around $45 million with River for the teenager earlier this month. For the Argentine manager, the midfielder still needed more time to grow at the club, but he acknowledged the early transfer as an understandable part of modern football. "It's natural, we train players for the world. Everything is happening earlier, young players are leaving faster, and I understand that those are the rules of the game," Gallardo told ESPN on Friday. "Our sporting project for the year was with him. We have to readjust, because there are players who, by their nature, are difficult to replace. "We knew that Mastantuono was going to leave at some point, but fans don't enjoy it that way. The market dictates the timing." Gallardo said he's urging Mastantuono to stay focused on the tournament despite the noise around his move. "All I want is for him to play naturally, to try to forget about everything that's going on, which is very difficult," he said. "I don't talk to him about where he's going to live or anything like that. I want him to play, which is what he knows how to do." River began their Club World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, a result Gallardo described as key to easing early nerves. "We are happy to be able to be in a competition like this, a new one," he said. "I'm excited about how it's going, it was essential to start with a win and get over the nerves. "Now we're preparing for the match in Monterrey, which is a different level of difficulty."
Reuters
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Mastantuono's move to Real Madrid was premature, says River boss Gallardo
June 20 (Reuters) - Franco Mastantuono's transfer to Real Madrid came too soon, while the 17-year-old was still developing and pivotal to River Plate's future, said coach Marcelo Gallardo ahead of the Argentine team's Club World Cup match against Monterrey. Gallardo acknowledged Mastantuono's departure will leave a void in his squad after the Spanish giants completed a deal worth around $45 million with River for the teenager earlier this month. For the Argentine manager, the midfielder still needed more time to grow at the club, but he acknowledged the early transfer as an understandable part of modern football. "It's natural, we train players for the world. Everything is happening earlier, young players are leaving faster, and I understand that those are the rules of the game," Gallardo told ESPN on Friday. "Our sporting project for the year was with him. We have to readjust, because there are players who, by their nature, are difficult to replace. "We knew that Mastantuono was going to leave at some point, but fans don't enjoy it that way. The market dictates the timing." Gallardo said he's urging Mastantuono to stay focused on the tournament despite the noise around his move. "All I want is for him to play naturally, to try to forget about everything that's going on, which is very difficult," he said. "I don't talk to him about where he's going to live or anything like that. I want him to play, which is what he knows how to do." River began their Club World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, a result Gallardo described as key to easing early nerves. "We are happy to be able to be in a competition like this, a new one," he said. "I'm excited about how it's going, it was essential to start with a win and get over the nerves. "Now we're preparing for the match in Monterrey, which is a different level of difficulty." Following Saturday's game against the Mexican team in Pasadena, River will face Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday.
New York Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
River Plate's Marcelo Gallardo says he made Cristiano Ronaldo Club World Cup offer
River Plate head coach Marcelo Gallardo says he made informal contact with Cristiano Ronaldo over representing the Argentine side at the 2025 Club World Cup. Ronaldo, 40, confirmed earlier in June he would not be at the tournament despite receiving multiple offers. Gallardo, 49, previously coached Ronaldo when he took charge of a Riyadh All-Stars team for a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. He explained the five-time Ballon d'Or winner considered his proposal to play for River Plate at this summer's tournament but turned it down to focus on next season. Advertisement 'In mid-March, informally, through a mutual friend, I told him, 'Hey, I have a Club World Cup coming up, for a player like you, who defined an era… don't you have any intention of playing in it?'' Gallardo told ESPN. 'Not only did he feel recognised, but he evaluated it, thought about it, but then responded, 'I have to prepare for next season'.' Ronaldo's Al Nassr did not qualify for the Club World Cup, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an interview in May there had been 'discussions' and the Portugal international 'might play' for a team at the tournament. Ronaldo, however, later confirmed he would likely not be there. 'There have been a lot of conversations, but there are certain things that I see as making sense and not making sense,' he said at a news conference ahead of Portugal's Nations League final against Spain,. 'You can't go to everything, you have to think short, medium and long term. I've pretty much made up my mind not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had plenty of offers.' Ronaldo did talk about the potential of one day play Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada also said this month it would have been 'completely counter intuitive' for his club to sign Ronaldo on loan from Riyadh rivals Al Nassr for the Club World Cup. River Plate beat Urawa Reds in their Club World Cup opener, and play Monterrey and Inter in their remaining group stage fixtures.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🤕Bad news, Driussi could be out with an ankle sprain
🤕Bad news, Driussi could be out with an ankle sprain Marcelo Gallardo's team debuted with a victory in the Club World Cup against Urawa Red Diamonds. However, the coach left with a big headache. After scoring the second goal of the match, Driussi had to leave due to injury, and everyone was already worried. Advertisement And the worst news is that, according to Olé, the River Plate forward may have an ankle sprain, which would end his presence in the main event. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Buda Mendes - 2025 Getty Images
