River Plate attempted to send left-back Matías Viña back to Flamengo, but the Rubro-Negro imposed a strict financial condition to accept the player’s early return.
Matías Viña‘s situation in South American football has taken a new turn. The left-back, who currently plays for River Plate (ARG), continues to find no space in the Argentine squad this 2026 season. Faced with limited playing time, the Buenos Aires club’s board sought to formalize the player’s return to Flamengo, who holds his economic rights, in an attempt to terminate the loan agreement early.
However, Flamengo maintains an unyielding stance. According to reports by M360 Team, the Rio de Janeiro club agrees to take the Uruguayan back, but demands that River Plate cover the player’s full salary until December, the month in which the loan contract officially ends.
Financial Stalemate and History of Attempts
This is not the first time the Argentine club has tried to send the player back to Flamengo. During the World Cup period, a similar attempt was made, and at that time, Flamengo‘s board had already adopted the exact same financial demand. The consistency in the Brazilian club’s position demonstrates there is no willingness to ease the cost burden for the Argentines.
“Flamengo will not waive what was agreed upon in the contract. For the return to be finalized, the Buenos Aires club needs to honor Viña’s salaries until the end of the loan,” insiders emphasize regarding the negotiation.
Long Period of Inactivity and Trajectory at Flamengo
Matías Viña‘s absence from the field is significant. The left-back has not played an official match since May 2026, when he was on the field in a 1-0 victory over Rosario Central (ARG) in the semifinals of the Argentine Championship. Since then, the player has accumulated months of inactivity, which has caused concern among his representatives, who are seeking a solution for him to regain match fitness this year.
Signed from Roma (ITA) for approximately R$ 43 million in early 2024, Viña had a journey marked by ups and downs at Gávea. The player suffered a severe knee injury in August 2024, which sidelined him for ten months. During his stint with Flamengo, he tallied 32 appearances, one goal, and two assists, participating in important conquests such as the Brazilian Championship, the Copa do Brasil, and the Libertadores.
While Viña‘s situation is discussed behind the scenes, the squad led by Leonardo Jardim remains fully focused on its competitions. This Thursday (10), Flamengo has a decisive clash against Independiente del Valle (EQU), at 9:30 PM BRT, at the Estádio Olímpico Atahualpa. The match, valid for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, will be broadcast on ESPN and the streaming service Disney+.
M360 Team
