Sat Mar 22 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Palacios Shuns River Return Despite Montiel’s Plea; Focus on Argentina & Leverkusen
**BUENOS AIRES, March 18, 2025** – Exequiel Palacios, midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen and the Argentine national team, has dismissed rumors of an imminent return to River Plate, despite attempts by teammate Gonzalo Montiel to convince him otherwise. Palacios, who arrived in Ezeiza today to join the Argentina squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, confirmed speaking with Montiel, stating, “He went crazy trying to get me to come back.”
While Palacios expressed continued support for his former club, River Plate, he reiterated his commitment to his current contract with Leverkusen, which runs until June 2028. Although not a guaranteed starter, he has featured in 18 Bundesliga matches this season, seven of those as a starter. He last addressed a potential River Plate return in May 2024, stating his desire to remain in Europe for the foreseeable future before eventually returning to Argentina when physically prepared.
The midfielder briefly touched on River Plate’s participation in the Copa Libertadores, stating he hadn’t followed the draw due to travel but wished them well. His focus remains firmly on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and his career in Germany.
First Piper 