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Galatasaray’s 33-year-old Argentine striker Mauro Icardi is edging closer to a move to River Plate on home soil ahead of the upcoming transfer window as his contract expires, a report suggested.
The striker is now leaning toward River Plate, even though his long-standing affection for Newell's Old Boys is widely recognized, Argentine journalist Pablo Cecchini told Turkish news outlet ntv.com.tr.
"Current developments suggest he is closer to River Plate," Cecchini noted, pointing to past hints from the player, including photos shared from Monumental Stadium.
Cecchini revealed that River Plate had already opened talks with Icardi in early 2026, when the striker had less than six months remaining on his Galatasaray contract.
The Argentine club has kept him on its radar for an extended period, treating him as a priority option in attack.
Head coach Eduardo Coudet is understood to be shaping a forward line that could feature Icardi alongside Sebastian Driussi, a pairing seen as capable of reshaping the team’s offensive structure.
At the same time, River Plate continues to weigh alternatives, with Giovanni Simeone also listed among the club’s attacking targets, he added.
Mauro Icardi joined Galatasaray on loan from Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the 2022–23 season and quickly made his mark in attack. After a strong debut campaign, the club signed him permanently for €10 million, and he has since become one of the team’s standout figures.
Since arriving in Istanbul, he has won three Süper Lig titles and one Turkish Cup, and finished as the league’s top scorer in the 2023–24 season.
Following the arrival of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in a record €75 million transfer, and after a cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for 38 matches, the club is reportedly not planning to extend Icardi’s contract.
His current market value stands at €5 million, according to Transfermarkt.
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