Torino market, exit on the'horizon in attack but Cairo does not discount

John Simeone’s return to River Plate is no longer just a suggestion, but a concrete negotiation. According to the latest rumors, the striker has even already reached an agreement in principle with the Millonarios for a three-year contract. The “Cholito” has never hidden his desire to return to wear the jersey of the club that launched him, and the agreement reached seems to confirm his desire to end his experience in Serie A.

The operation, in the air for several weeks now, must, however, overcome the highest hurdle: the green light from Torino. Urbano Cairo is not budging from the €10 million valuation, a figure River hopes to lower by including bonuses or deferring the payment. Although the agreement between club and player is a fundamental step forward, the white smoke now depends on the Argentine club’s ability to meet the Granata’s demands.

Simeone’s eventual farewell would force Torino to totally revise its offensive plans for next season. Losing a player of his weight would force the management to look for a replacement up to the mark quickly so as not to leave the team uncovered at the crucial time of preparation.

In this scenario of uncertainty, the positions of the other strikers, starting with Duvan Zapata, also remain to be evaluated. If the rumors about Simeone were to materialize, the Colombian’s future would become an even more central issue: the club will have to decide whether to armor its captain or initiate a deep restyling of the attack, starting precisely from the reflections on the physical fitness and permanence of the former Atalanta forward.

For Simeone, however, it would be a choice guided by heart and roots. He entered River’s youth ranks in 2008 and experienced a five-year growth spurt until his debut with the Millonarios in 2013. After lifting international trophies while remaining in the squad until 2015, he began his long pilgrimage between loan at Banfield and the many jerseys worn in Italy (Genoa, Fiorentina, Cagliari, Verona, Napoli, and Torino). At almost 31, a return to the Monumental would represent the perfect closing of a circle that began as a young boy.