Valentín Castellanos impressed for New York City FC during the last Major League Soccer season, scoring 22 goals and registering eight assists. The forward’s fine displays have resulted in Leeds United and River Plate showing interest in him.
Marcelo Gallardo, the South American club’s manager, has confirmed his side are looking at the 23-year-old.
La Página Millonaria now state the player ‘wants to make a leap to Argentina’, where he has ‘never played despite being born in the country’.
River Plate offered $4m to buy 50 percent of his rights and an additional $5m, to be paid in three instalments, for the other 50 percent. This proposal was rejected by the City Football Group, who also own Manchester City.
The winter transfer window in Argentina is still open and the outlet states that River Plate, in the last few hours, have ‘improved the proposal’ and the new offer could worth around $12m. The report even states player is ‘one step away’ from joining them.
When Castellanos’ agents were negotiating with River Plate, they received another call Leeds, who ‘showed their desire to hire’ the attacker.
It’s claimed Marcelo Bielsa’s side ‘expressed interest in hiring’ Castellanos in the next window, and to do that they are willing to offer $14m (€12.3m).
Despite the Whites’ interest, the Argentine’s desire as of today is to play for River Plate, who still have to convince New York City FC to conclude the operation.
