La Derecha Diario Lucas Lavagnino, relegated at River, is leaving for Independiente in search of playing time
The young goalkeeper, with no place due to the presence of Franco Armani and Jeremías Ledesma, is leaving on loan to Rojo for 18 months
Meanwhile, River continues to add new faces as the transfer window closes, with the arrivals of Juan Fernando Quintero, Maximiliano Salas, Alex Woiski, Juan Carlos Portillo and Matías Galarza Fonda already confirmed, while departures are also ongoing.
The most recent is Lucas Lavagnino, a 20-year-old goalkeeper who will join Independiente on loan for 18 months, with a purchase option for 50% of his rights (amount yet to be determined).
Although Marcelo Gallardo approached this squad renewal intending to release some players whose cycles had ended and give playing time to the youth, Lavagnino was not among the expendable names. However, faced with a concrete offer from Rojo, the young player agreed to seek minutes outside the club.
"It's a good opportunity. As long as Armani and Ledesma are here, I wasn't going to have a place," his inner circle admits.
"Lulo" was a key figure in the 2024 back-to-back Reserve champion team and had already established himself as the third goalkeeper of the professional squad, although he never made his official debut in the First Division (he only played a friendly against Unión La Calera under Demichelis's management). At Independiente, he will compete with Rodrigo Rey, although initially he will do so as an option from the bench.
One of the issues to solve is his contractual situation with River: his current contract expires in December 2026, but if the loan extends until early 2026, the club could lose him without compensation if there is no prior renewal. For this reason, Millonario plans to extend his contract for at least one more year before his departure to Avellaneda.
Despite the high potential Lavagnino showed in the youth divisions, his departure seemed inevitable. With two national team goalkeepers like Franco Armani and Jeremías Ledesma ahead of him, his football development needed minutes, rhythm, and competition, something he will be able to seek at an Independiente in full reconstruction.
River continues to reorganize its squad in the final days of the transfer window, balancing reinforcements, strategic departures, and bets on youth players with potential.
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