Former Olympique de Marseille president Pablo Longoria has reportedly agreed terms to join River Plate as sporting director, with an official announcement expected soon. This was confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
Earlier reports from Softfootball indicated that negotiations between both parties were progressing positively, with Longoria open to the move as final details were being completed. The latest update suggests the agreement is now close to formal confirmation.
Romano revealed:
Former Olympique Marseille president Pablo Longoria has now agreed to sign at River Plate as new sporting director. Deal sealed and official statement next.
The 39-year-old executive built a strong reputation in European football through recruitment and squad planning roles at Juventus, Valencia CF, Newcastle United and Atalanta B.C. before rising to become Marseille president in 2021.
Marseille officially parted ways with Longoria after agreeing exit conditions. His departure followed growing internal tensions, particularly after the widely discussed resignation saga involving Mehdi Benatia. Reports also suggested Longoria was unhappy with a reduced role proposed by owner Frank McCourt during a restructuring plan.
River Plate’s decision to target Longoria signals an ambition to modernize football operations by adding European expertise in recruitment, long-term planning, and squad building.
He is expected to work closely with club president Stéfano Di Carlo and technical secretary Enzo Francescoli if the appointment is finalized.
For River Plate, bringing in a figure with broad international experience could strengthen their ability to compete domestically while improving talent identification and transfer strategy.
For Longoria, the move would represent a fresh challenge at one of South America’s biggest clubs after a turbulent ending in France.
