Matías Galarza Fonda answered the criticism around his exit from River on the eve of Paraguay’s match against Australia, saying his mind is on the national team and not on the noise that followed him out of Buenos Aires. The midfielder used a press conference in Paraguay to push back after a difficult spell in which River moved him on to Atlanta United.
Galarza Fonda said his only concern was giving the best to his country and called the things said about him “a barbarity.” He also said he is proud, happy and focused on the next match and on the players he will face, a clear effort to turn the page while Paraguay prepares for Australia.
The timing matters because his future is still open. River sent him to Atlanta United after a 14-match run in which he produced no goals or assists and completed the full 90 minutes only three times. The deal included a loan with a purchase obligation set at 3.000.000 net dollars for 50% of his rights, a clause that could be triggered after six months if objectives were met. They were not, because he totaled only 847 minutes in the half-season.
That left Atlanta United weighing whether to buy him anyway. Before that, River had already invested 8.5 million dollars to keep 70% of his rights together with Juan Portillo, so the club also wanted to recover part of that outlay when it let him go. Galarza Fonda had already tried to calm the debate on arrival in Paraguay by saying he has a contract and is a River player, while local media reported a sharp emotional dip after learning he would not be counted on.
There is still a final catch in the deal. If no sale is completed during the Copa del Mundo, he will return to Camp to train separately from the squad, which makes Atlanta United’s decision the one that will define whether this move ends with a permanent exit or another awkward return.
