Defender Lucas Martínez Quarta, a two-time Copa América champion with the Argentine national team, signed his contract as the new player of River Plate this Tuesday, the club where he made his debut and played between 2016 and 2020. The center-back, who returns to River Plate after a four-year stint with Fiorentina, was warmly welcomed by the club, which posted a message on their X (formerly Twitter) account: "You're home, Chino," along with an image of Martínez Quarta wearing the River Plate jersey that reads "Welcome Lucas Martínez Quarta."

The 28-year-old from Mar del Plata has already joined River Plate's preseason in San Martín de los Andes under the orders of Marcelo Gallardo, who was the one to give the defender his debut during his first stint at the club. Martínez Quarta joins the team to face upcoming international challenges, including the Club World Cup and Copa Libertadores, competitions in which the team from Núñez aims to continue adding successes.

With River Plate, Martínez Quarta was a key part of the squad that won the Copa Libertadores in 2018 and the Recopa Sudamericana in 2019, along with three domestic titles. His strong performances at the Argentine club earned him a call-up to the national team, where he became a Copa América champion in 2021 and 2024, although he was not part of the squad that won the World Cup in Qatar 2022. His return to River Plate is exciting news for fans who remember him as one of the pillars of a successful team in the past decade.

This Tuesday, the 28-year-old defender also bid farewell to Fiorentina with an emotional message on his social media, thanking the Italian club for giving him the opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing in Europe. "Today is the time to say goodbye. I salute the club that gave everything for me and my family. Now it’s time to go home," said Martínez Quarta, who made a significant impact in Serie A before returning to Argentina.

With this signing, River Plate adds its fifth reinforcement for the season, after the arrivals of Enzo Pérez, Gonzalo Tapia, Matías Rojas, and Giuliano Galoppo, who also signed his contract this Tuesday. Martínez Quarta will share the squad with three World Cup champions: Marcos Acuña, Germán Pezzella, and Franco Armani, further strengthening the team for the upcoming challenges in the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup.