Quintero eager for new River Plate challenge

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BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — Colombian midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero has likened his return to Argentina as a homecoming as he prepares for a second spell with Buenos Aires giants River Plate.

Quintero is expected to sign a one-year contract, with the option of an extension, following a routine medical at the club’s Buenos Aires headquarters.

“I’m very happy to be back. This is my home. I hope we can have a good season and I can’t wait to be with my teammates,” Quintero told reporters upon his arrival at Ezeiza international airport.

The 29-year-old rejoins the reigning Argentine Primera Division champions as a free agent, having parted ways with Chinese Super League club Shenzhen FC by mutual consent in December.

The former Porto player became an instant hero among River fans when he scored the decisive goal in his team’s extra-time victory over rivals Boca Juniors in the 2018 Copa Libertadores final.

Quintero represented the Buenos Aires outfit 61 times across all competitions in his first spell with the club, which ended in February last year.

“We all know what happened,” Quintero said, referring to the Copa Libertadores final at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. “That’s never going to change and this is a new challenge that starts from scratch. That is the mentality that we have to have in River.”

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