Eduardo Coudet blamed for Juan Fernando Quintero's exit from River Plate

River Plate manager Eduardo Coudet, who took charge in January 2026, has been identified as the main cause of Colombian midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero's departure. Coudet's demand for a high‑intensity, pressing style conflicted with Quintero's physical limits, resulting in only 448 minutes of play in the first half of the season and a brief five‑minute appearance in the final against Belgrano. The dispute became public after Coudet announced that Quintero should report to training after the World Cup, unaware the player had secured an additional week of leave. Quintero responded, stating he was not considered a priority. Coudet noted that the exit frees a foreign‑player slot and salary cap space, but also highlights deeper issues in his handling of the squad's top talent and internal communication failures at the club.