December 31, 2022 passed, and the year 2023 began with uncertainty for Juan Fernando Quintero. The date he had to sign his renewal with River Plate passed, and, although it seemed that everything was done for Juan Fernando to extend his contract with the Argentine club, his future took a turn that has not yet come to fruition, since there is no certainty of what may be the next team for the Antioquian.
Juan Fernando Quintero is wanted by Flamengo, current champion of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores, of Major League Soccer and also with the possibility of returning to Colombia. But, to date, three days after completing his contract with River Plate and being released, there have been more obstacles for the future of the Antioquian.
Flamengo, who also seemed to speed up the negotiations with Juan Fernando Quintero, stopped due to a problem that they see him hiring the Colombian. Although he was one of the fundamental pieces for Marcelo Gallardo, and had the confidence of the Argentine in River Plate in the last rounds of the Argentine League, the Brazilians think that Juan Fernando’s physical condition should be reviewed, a problem that would condition the Antioquian to the future. However, he improved a lot in that component, despite suffering an injury that took him out of competition for two months or so.
Apart from the issue of physical condition, Flamengo, which let the talks cool down, the Brazilian club accelerated the signing of Gerson, an attacking midfielder that they sold for 25 million euros to Olympique de Marseille and 18 months later they signed him for 20 million euros. Do they close the door upon the arrival of Juan Fernando Quintero? Well, that possibility of signing with Fla little by little is fading away, although it is Vitor Pereira’s wish. However, he would not be the only option in Brazilian soccer.
And it is that, there is another historical team from Brazil that is behind Juan Fernando Quintero, and not only from Antioquia, since Juan Fernando would not arrive alone. They also want, and in fact, the Brazilian press mentions that they have already entered into conversations with Gustavo Cuéllar who remains a fundamental piece in Al Hilal who must now stop David Ospina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia football.
According to Globo Esporte, Inter de Porto Alegre, which also wants to counteract its backyard rival, Gremio de Porto Alegre, which signed Luis Alberto Suárez, will seek in the coming days to close the signing of Juan Fernando Quintero and try to bring football from Saudi Arabia to Gustavo Cuéllar. The operation with Quintero would be easier, since he is a free player, while with Cuéllar they would have to negotiate with the Al Hilal club.
Gustavo Cuéllar, who had already played in Brazil with Flamengo, could have his second adventure in Brazilian territory. Globo Esporte mentions that Mano Menezes wants Cuéllar, “it is a request from coach Mano Menezes. Inter already had a conversation with the player, presented his values and project and received a positive sign to move forward. A proposal to the Saudi club”, mentioned the sports media. In addition, they added that “Inter would be willing to wait until the middle of the year, with the departure after a friendly negotiation.”