River Plate president José María Aguilar has admitted that he is envious of San Lorenzo for bringing Andrés D'Alessandro back to Argentina.

Earlier this week San Lorenzo captured the signing of D'Alessandro on a year-long loan from a group of investors who purchased the midfielder from Real Zaragoza after River Plate had previously stated an interest in signing their former player.

Aguilar is jealous that San Lorenzo got their man, but believes there is still a possibility of D'Alessandro returning to River in the future.

"The fact that D'Alessandro plays in San Lorenzo makes me envy them," he told Radio Mitre.

"I was enchanted by the possibility of him returning to River as I said when we opened negotiations. But economically it seemed to us imprudent to make that investment and we said no. I do not discard that next year Andrés plays in River."

Another man that Aguilar thinks will enjoy another spell at River is current San Lorenzo coach Ramón Díaz, who won seven trophies in charge of Los Millonarios between 1995 and 2003.

"He is going to return to River, it is inevitable. A month ago I went after him but it was not to be. There will surely be some other opportunity at River for him to return and direct the team, because he is deserving of the role, has a great winning record and is identified with the club."

Looking ahead to the coming campaign, Aguilar feels that they have a good team and that new coach Diego Simeone is starting to stamp his authority on the club.

"River has a good team, that has not taken too many losses on the playing side and with the reinforcements that have been brought in is able to compete at the top end of the competitions it is entered in.

"Simeone has much desire and was attracted to the challenge. Little by little he is marking his impression on the club, something that is not easy."

Finally, Aguilar was asked to comment on the players that River have signed in preparation for the new season.

"We are excited because we have brought very good players. Cabral is a very good central defender, we have wanted Archubi for a while and Abreu does not need any introduction," he concluded.

He's such an wally, he's basically just undermined Simone's position at the club by implying he wasn't the first choice coach. This may well have been the case, but you don't say it in public!

I'm still not sure about River's new signings, Abreu has a lot of experience and I think is a pretty safe buy, but in my opinion Archubi is not as good as Belluschi, who left for Olympiacos earlier in January. Archubi still has a lot to prove after a pretty crap time in Greece, and I don't think he will be able to fill Belluschi's boots, not this season anyway.
Getting rid of Lussenhoff could be a very good move for River, because he was such a rubbish defender, especially over the last couple of seasons, but the question is, have River got a suitable enough replacement in Cabral?