Diego Buonanotte discusses emotional ties to River Plate

Speaking in an exclusive interview with La Página Millonaria, the 38-year-old—who currently plays professionally for Deportes Temuco in Chile—reflected candidly on his formative years in Núñez, his breakthrough during a turbulent institutional period in 2008, and the complex personal reasons that have kept him away from the club’s home ground since his departure.

An Emotional Bond and a Difficult Return

Buonanotte, who joined River Plate at age 11, made his senior debut in 2006 under manager Daniel Passarella before cementing his status as an undisputed starter under Diego Simeone during the 2008 Torneo Clausura championship run. Despite the club facing severe financial and institutional instability at the time, the player known affectionately as “El Enano” recalled feeling nothing but pure joy when pulling on the famous red-and-white shirt.

“I lived a dream every time I had the River shirt on and now I’m realizing everything. The truth is that it moves me because River was and will be everything in my life,” Buonanotte told La Página Millonaria. He added that the depth of feeling is so potent that reminders of his past can be overwhelming: “It happens to me that my son or a friend shows me a goal I scored with the River shirt and it’s hard for me to watch it. It’s so much love and so strong what I lived that I don’t know how to explain it. A knot forms in my chest, my voice chokes.”

Remarkably, the former star revealed that he has never stepped foot back inside the Estadio Monumental since leaving the club. Although Di Carlo has kept doors open for his return, Buonanotte admitted he simply does not feel ready to sit in the stands as a fan.

Shared Glory and Lasting Friendships

Reflecting on his career highlights, Buonanotte pointed to the 2008 Clausura title, where he formed a memorable attacking partnership alongside Radamel Falcao and Ariel Ortega. Buonanotte singled out Ortega as the most influential figure he encountered during his playing days, ranking him above even Lionel Messi in terms of personal impact on the pitch and in the dressing room.

“It’s the maximum that happened to me in my career, and that’s even though I played with Messi,” Buonanotte said of his bond with Ortega. He also shared a touching anecdote regarding the character of the former teammate, recalling how Ortega sent him a supportive message moments before his wedding ceremony despite being unable to attend due to travel commitments.

Perspective on Young Talents and Future Outlook

Beyond his personal reflections, Buonanotte also addressed modern squad movements at River Plate, offering a cautious view on young players transferring abroad prematurely. Discussing the recent departure of striker Joaquín Freitas to Flamengo after just 30 appearances, Buonanotte noted that the threshold for leaving a major club used to require a more established track record of performances and goals.

As for his own future, Buonanotte maintains that a return to River Plate remains an eventuality rather than an immediate plan. “It is so big the love and affection that I will surely return,” he stated. “Today I feel that I am not prepared to return to River. I don’t imagine going, sitting in the stand and watching it as a fan. Time will give me that push to make the decision.”