No River Move for Román Vega: Defender Joins Zenit in $6.5M Deal

Román Vega, one of River Plate’s top transfer targets this window, will not be joining Marcelo Gallardo’s squad. Despite strong efforts from the Buenos Aires giants, the Argentinos Juniors full-back has chosen to continue his career in Europe, signing with Zenit Saint Petersburg.

River had pushed hard to secure the 22-year-old, submitting multiple offers—starting at $3.5 million for 80% of his rights and ending with a $6.5 million bid including bonuses. But Argentinos Juniors held firm, ultimately accepting a superior offer from Zenit: $6.5 million net for 90% of the player’s rights.

As reported by Germán García Grova, Vega is set to travel to Russia in the coming hours to sign a four-year deal with the club. The decision to sell abroad, in part, came from Argentinos’ reluctance to strengthen a direct domestic rival.

The setback forces River to turn to alternative targets. Lucas Esquivel remains on the radar, though Athletico Paranaense’s asking price remains high. Another option, Gabriel Suazo, is currently a free agent but prefers to remain in Europe following his stint with Toulouse.

With their Club World Cup campaign concluded, River now refocuses on the Copa Libertadores—but their transfer strategy will need to adjust quickly after losing out on a key reinforcement.