River Eyes Boca Ex Jonathan Calleri in Transfer Move

River Plate is considering a move for Jonathan Calleri, the former Boca Juniors striker currently playing for São Paulo, according to reports surfacing this week. The potential acquisition comes as El Millonario evaluates options to bolster their attacking options, with manager Marcelo Gallardo reportedly assessing the 33-year-old.

The interest in Calleri emerged after River received offers for 15 different center forwards in the last week, two from Colombia and thirteen from Argentina. An intermediary presented Calleri’s name to the club, prompting Gallardo to begin scouting the player. While River has maintained ongoing communication with São Paulo regarding previous transfers – Enzo Díaz, Gonzalo Tapia and Giuliano Galoppo – Calleri’s situation is complicated by ongoing contract renewal talks with his current club.

Calleri’s time at Boca Juniors, spanning 2014 and 2015, saw him score 23 goals in 61 appearances, securing two championships for the club. He quickly became a key figure in the team, particularly during Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s tenure. Despite his successful stint with Boca, a return has not been formally proposed, but the positive impression he left remains.

Currently, Calleri is in his second spell with São Paulo, where he has become a prominent figure, amassing 81 goals and two titles across both periods. He has started 2026 with six appearances and two goals, recovering from a ligament injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the 2025 season. However, his potential move to River is not a foregone conclusion, as he is actively negotiating a contract extension with the Brazilian club.

Gallardo’s interest comes amid a perceived lack of consistent goalscoring within the River squad. Facundo Colidio has gone 21 matches without a goal, while Sebastián Driussi, currently sidelined with a torn muscle for 20 days, has a 13-game drought. Maxi Salas has also struggled to find the back of the net, with 10 games passing without a goal. The last River player to score was Ian Subiabre against Racing in Avellaneda, a match where Racing ultimately eliminated River from the Torneo Clausura playoffs.

River has also been exploring other options, including Luciano Gondou, but his valuation of 12 million by Zenit Saint Petersburg proved prohibitive. The club is also considering developing young talent, with Agustín Ruberto gaining momentum after recovering from a ligament injury last year.

Gallardo, however, appears to be taking a measured approach, believing that improved collective performance will resolve the offensive issues. He is not overly concerned by the current drought, anticipating that goals will come with better team cohesion. His scouting of Calleri suggests a desire to add an experienced goalscorer to the roster, but the decision will likely depend on the player’s availability and contract situation with São Paulo.

Calleri has played for a number of clubs throughout his career, including All Boys (2013-14), West Ham United (2016-17), UD Las Palmas (2017-18), Deportivo Alavés (2018-19), RCD Espanyol (2019-20), and Venezia (2020-21) before returning to São Paulo in 2021.

As of today, February 5, 2026, the situation remains fluid, with Gallardo continuing his evaluation and Calleri engaged in negotiations with São Paulo. The coming weeks will determine whether the former Boca star will be making a move to River Plate.