Marrakech – River Plate are monitoring Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou as incoming coach Eduardo Coudet looks to reshape the squad following a turbulent run of results that cost Marcelo Gallardo his job.
According to multiple Argentine media reports, Coudet has identified Bounou as his primary goalkeeping target for the mid-year transfer window.
The Al-Hilal stopper is viewed as the ideal profile to replace veteran Franco Armani, whose future at the club remains uncertain. At 39, Armani is currently sidelined with injury, with young Santiago Beltrán filling in. A conversation between Armani and the River board is expected mid-year.
Argentine journalist Hernán Castillo was direct about the club’s intentions. “I know they are going to speak with Bono after the World Cup,” he said on Love Stream. “Whether he comes is another thing, but River will call him to see if he is interested.”
The financial reality, however, is steep. Bounou joined from Sevilla FC in August 2023 for a reported transfer fee of €21 million. He currently earns around €10.2 million per year at Al-Hilal – roughly 850,000 Argentine pesos per month. That figure sits well beyond standard Argentine football wages and is considered a serious obstacle to any deal.
Bounou also recently extended his contract with the Saudi club, now running until 2028, meaning River would need to negotiate a transfer fee as well.
What makes the story credible is Bounou’s own words. In a 2023 interview with Infobae, the 34-year-old was unambiguous about his feelings toward the club.
“I would love to play there one day,” he said. “I hope it happens. I love that atmosphere, what the fans sing, how it all feels.” He added that his father’s gift of an Argentine national team shirt was his very first football jersey – the moment he became a River supporter.
That attachment runs deep. Bounou’s dog is named Ariel, after his childhood idol Ariel Ortega. He attended the 2018 Copa Libertadores final in Madrid and travelled to Japan in 2015 to watch River play Barcelona in the Club World Cup.
As recently as February this year, Bounou reaffirmed the dream in an interview with Argentine YouTuber Ezequiel. Asked about his next objectives, he listed three: winning a title with Morocco, continuing to perform at Al-Hilal, and playing in Argentine football.
In 36 appearances this season across club and country, Bounou has conceded just 24 goals – under one per game – underlining why River are willing to pursue such a complex operation.
The move will not happen before the 2026 World Cup. But when that tournament ends, River Plate intend to make the call.