Atlético Mineiro close in on Kevin Castaño loan deal with River Plate

Atlético Mineiro have emerged as the leading candidate to take Kevin Castaño on loan from River Plate, with football director Paulo Bracks confirming that talks have been going on for several days. The Colombian midfielder is training in his home country after the World Cup and is close to a move, likely on loan, although River have not yet confirmed a formal agreement.

Why Castaño is now surplus at River

Castaño arrived at the Monumental in March 2025 from Krasnodar with real expectations, but he lost his place under coach Eduardo Coudet and was eventually left out of the first-team picture. According to Ole, River’s board has decided to accept loan offers for the players who were sidelined, and Castaño is one of the names on that list.

His situation became more delicate after River’s defeat to Rosario Central at the Monumental. Castaño publicly congratulated Jáminton Campaz, a Rosario Central player and his Colombia teammate during the World Cup, on Instagram, writing “Animal” with a heart under a post celebrating the win over River. The gesture was considered inopportune because the midfielder remains under contract with the club, even if his path out of Núñez now seems a matter of time.

River’s financial stakes

The financial side of this deal matters for River. The club paid €12,860,000 net to Krasnodar in March 2025, a figure close to $16 million gross, and the operation was structured in four installments. That means River will keep paying for Castaño’s transfer until December 2028, the same month his contract expires. Recovering that investment is very difficult, those around the club admit, which is why a loan with a purchase option is seen as the most workable solution.

River’s preference, per Ole, is to include a purchase option in any loan that could become mandatory if certain objectives are met. Whether Atlético Mineiro accept that condition remains an open point.

What Atlético Mineiro are offering

Paulo Bracks, who leads Atlético Mineiro’s football department, confirmed the club’s interest in statements published by Brazilian media. “We have been negotiating for several days,” Bracks said, adding that the structure under discussion is temporary, not permanent. The Galo, coached by Eduardo Domínguez, would give Castaño a chance to reset his career in the Brasileirão with regular minutes.

The deal is not exclusive to Belo Horizonte, though. A second Brazilian club, which has not been named, is also trying to secure the former Krasnodar midfielder. River have not confirmed an agreement with either side.

What remains unclear

Several details are still unresolved. River have not formally accepted any proposal, the identity of the rival Brazilian club is unknown, and the loan fee, salary split and buy-option value have not been disclosed. It is also unclear whether Castaño has chosen a preferred destination or how quickly the move could be completed before the Brazilian window closes.

The table below sums up what is known so far.

Why the deal matters

For River, this loan would reduce the burden of a high-cost player who is not in the coach’s plans while the club continues to pay for his transfer. For Atlético Mineiro, it would bring in a defensive midfielder with World Cup experience to help in the Brasileirão campaign. For Castaño, it is a route back to regular football after a negative spell in Argentina.

Readers should treat the transfer as advanced but not concluded. What is confirmed: Bracks confirmed several days of negotiations, the deal is expected to be temporary, and Castaño is training in Colombia. What still needs official confirmation: River’s acceptance, the identity of the second Brazilian club, and the final loan conditions.

Source: Ole, August 6, 2026 — https://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/river-plate-atletico-mineiro-brasil_0_gUOkW7Q6KO.html