Uruguayan Full-Back Expresses Happiness About Arriving at Toca da Raposa and Details Tumultuous Exit from River Plate.
Cruzeiro‘s new signing, Matías Viña, landed in Belo Horizonte this Saturday (12) and shared his excitement about joining the Minas Gerais club. The 28-year-old Uruguayan left-back revealed that his departure from River Plate-ARG was prompted by an ‘uncomfortable situation’ related to contractual matters.
The impasse, according to the player, occurred between Flamengo, the club holding his federative rights, and River Plate itself. The disagreement on a key point of the agreement paved the way for negotiations with Cruzeiro (nicknamed ‘Raposa’), which finalized the player’s loan move.
‘Very happy to be here at Cruzeiro. When the possibility of coming arose, I wanted to play,’ Viña told Itatiaia. He explained that he was facing a ‘very uncomfortable situation’ at the Argentine club, related to ‘contract issues,’ which motivated him to seek a new professional destination.
Details of the Deal with Raposa
Matías Viña has signed a loan contract with Cruzeiro valid until the end of the season. The player, who belongs to Flamengo, will have his salary covered by River Plate-ARG during his time at Toca da Raposa II.
At the end of the loan term, Cruzeiro holds the option to purchase the player for $4.5 million, approximately R$ 23 million.
Full-Back’s Career Path
In the Brazilian football scene, Viña had his peak with Palmeiras in 2020, winning the Copa Libertadores. This promising phase led him to European football, with stints at Roma-ITA, Sassuolo-ITA, and Bournemouth-ITA.
In Europe, however, the Uruguayan’s performance was frequently hampered by injuries. His return to Brazil in 2024 to play for Flamengo did not result in him establishing himself, despite participating in important titles such as the Copa do Brasil, the Campeonato Brasileiro, and the Libertadores itself for the Rubro-Negro.
His loan to River Plate-ARG at the beginning of this year lasted only 14 matches. Viña also represented the Uruguayan national team this season, adding to his participation in the 2022 World Cup. Developed by Nacional-URU, the player is a native of Empalme Olmos, Uruguay.
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