Alexis Sánchez Confirms River Contact, But Return Remains Unlikely

Following Chile’s World Cup qualifying loss to Argentina, veteran forward Alexis Sánchez confirmed to the press that River Plate had reached out to him in the past. As reported by TyC Sports, the 36-year-old acknowledged a prior approach from the Argentine giants but reiterated his preference to stay in Europe.

“They contacted me before, but sometimes you just want to be in Europe. I enjoy European football. We’ll see,” Sánchez told reporters in the mixed zone. The contact he referenced dates back to June 2024, when his contract with Inter Milan had expired. River expressed interest, but Sánchez chose to rejoin Udinese, where his European journey originally began.

Alexis previously played for River during the 2007–08 season on loan from Udinese. Under Diego Simeone, he had a standout spell and helped secure the 2008 Clausura title. Despite early injuries, he left a lasting impression on the fans.

His overall stats at River include 31 matches, 4 goals, 3 assists, and one league title. Although his name still echoes around the Monumental, a return seems unlikely at this stage of his career. Marcelo Gallardo is reportedly focused on other options, though a player of Sánchez’s caliber is never fully out of the equation.