David Trezeguet leads River Plate's global expansion

David Trezeguet recently visited Paris on his way to Madrid for a meeting with FIFA representatives. At 48 years old, the 1998 World Cup winner was traveling in his capacity as an ambassador for River Plate. Trezeguet, who played for the club during the 2012-2013 season, accepted a role earlier this year under the leadership of new president Stefano Di Carlo. "The club has a project to expand the stadium ( to 101,000 seats by 2030 ), and the president wants to take things to the next level," the Franco-Argentine noted. "This involves developing the brand internationally."

His specific mandate is to secure new sponsorships and marketing partnerships. Having resided in Argentina for three years "for family reasons" following his tenure with Juventus, the former striker seeks to leverage his professional network to assist the Millionario. "When I first joined the club in 2012, it was very different on every level," said Trezeguet, whose brace famously secured the club's promotion back to the top flight. " We had hit rock bottom. A major overhaul was then launched, and today we have 86,000 spectators at each match, and 350,000 socios (who are club shareholders, like in Spanish clubs). Now, to reach the top, we need to develop our image. And to do that, we need to go abroad to raise our profile."

The Club World Cup held last summer highlighted the untapped potential within European, Asian, and North American markets. Through meetings with political authorities, major clubs, and global brands, the former Monaco player has become convinced that River Plate must consider international tours and training camps. "It's new for a South American club," he said. " Brazilian teams have significant economic power, but they don't travel. We have to look beyond Argentina." Regarding the nature of this expansion, Trezeguet noted: "In Mexico or the United States, it's all about marketing spectacle, a bit like the NBA," before adding, " Do we want to position ourselves in that market or more like in Europe? For the moment, we're observing."

Sporting excellence remains the priority. "In football, titles make the brand, so we have to remain the protagonists," Trezeguet explained. To this end, River Plate recruited Pablo Longoria. Appointed as sporting director alongside Enzo Francescoli, the former Marseille president is tasked with maintaining the club’s pipeline of professional talent—players frequently targeted by European giants, such as Julian Alvarez (Manchester City and Atlético de Madrid), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica and Chelsea), or Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid). "Longoria came to bring his ideas, to put things in place on the sporting side," Trezeguet remarked. "We have to give him time."

The former striker is focused on these long-term institutional goals. Although his name was linked to the River Plate presidency last year, he noted that updated statutes now limit presidents to a single term. "For me, the most important thing was to join the club," he said. " Now, the president will stay for four years, and the idea is to develop the club. My ambitions will become clear over time."