Colo-Colo Sets Demands as River Eyes Lucas Cepeda

Following its disappointing Club World Cup campaign, River Plate is moving swiftly to revamp its roster, and Chilean forward Lucas Cepeda is once again in the spotlight. The 22-year-old talent from Colo-Colo has caught the attention of Marcelo Gallardo and his staff, but the Chilean club has already outlined its demands.

As reported by Chilean media, Colo-Colo has not yet received a formal bid from River, but club officials are clear: they want to sell a majority share of Cepeda’s rights while retaining a percentage for future resale—similar to the structure of Pablo Solari’s transfer.

Cepeda is under contract until December 2026, with a release clause set at $5 million. However, River hopes to negotiate a lower fee. The first hurdle, though, is clearing a spot for a foreign player. With Adam Bareiro returning from Al-Rayyan, River has filled its six available slots for non-Argentine players. Unless Bareiro is sold, he must be loaned abroad again to free up space.

River has tracked Cepeda since the previous transfer window, and the player has already expressed interest. “River is one of the biggest clubs in South America—anyone would love to join,” he said back in February.

While mutual interest is clear, the deal hinges on River’s ability to unlock a foreign roster slot and meet Colo-Colo’s financial terms.