During his official presentation as a new player for Peñarol in Montevideo, Germán Pezzella addressed his recent departure from River Plate, describing the Buenos Aires powerhouse as perhaps the most important club of his life while expressing enthusiasm for a new chapter in Uruguayan football.
A World Champion Lands in Montevideo
The 35-year-old defender, who lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina at Qatar 2022, was officially unveiled by the aurinegro club after securing a contract running through December 31, 2027. Pezzella arrived in the Uruguayan capital as a free agent following the conclusion of his second stint with River Plate, where he made 50 official appearances, scored one goal, and provided one assist between 2024 and 2026. Speaking at the Los Aromos training complex on Thursday, September 3, 2026, the center-back addressed local media alongside club president Ignacio Ruglio.
Farewell to River Plate
“I take this space to say goodbye to River, which I wasn’t able to do at another moment,” Pezzella said during the press conference. “It is perhaps the most important club of my life for everything I went through there, so I take the opportunity to thank the people because I hold a very deep affection for them. Here we are, eager to start this new adventure.”
Breaking a 56-Year Drought
Pezzella’s arrival at Peñarol carries notable historical weight for South American football. According to reports from the region, his signing marks the first time a world champion has played for a Uruguayan club in 56 years, with the previous instance being defender William Martínez—who won the 1950 World Cup with Uruguay and finished his career at Central Español following stints that included Peñarol.
Internal Conversations and Competitive Fire
The defender explained that his decision to join the Montevideo club stemmed from conversations with friends who previously wore the aurinegro shirt, including Maxi Olivera and Sebastián Cristóforo. He also noted that his enduring competitive drive ultimately outweighed economically superior offers from elsewhere.
“My desire to compete [motivated me],” Pezzella said when asked about choosing Peñarol. “I know I am coming to a very popular club where the people set the bar very high. I like fighting for big things, and I am convinced that here we are going to do it.”
Focusing on the Present Under Aguirre
Ahead of his official debut under Diego Aguirre, Pezzella acknowledged that he is working to match the physical conditioning of his new teammates following a period of individual training in Argentina. He emphasized that his focus remains fixed on the present rather than past accolades.
“I am one of those who think that football is entirely about the present,” Pezzella stated. “My head is on being able to help the team, the club, from wherever I am called upon, giving my maximum as I always did in every place.”
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