Torino have rejected Giovanni Simeone’s request to leave the club and return to Argentine giants River Plate this summer, according to reports from Argentina.
The 30-year-old striker, who turns 31 next month, held discussions with Granata president Urbano Cairo this week to express his desire to move back to his former club in Buenos Aires. Argentine transfer pundit Cesar Luis Merlo claims Simeone informed Cairo of his wish to make the switch, but Torino immediately told the forward that he is not for sale and will remain part of their squad for the upcoming campaign.
The refusal highlights Torino’s determination to retain a key attacking asset despite the player’s personal wishes to end his European career. Simeone initially joined the club on a €1.35 million loan from Napoli last summer before Torino activated their purchase option. The Serie A side paid €7.2 million to secure his services outright, with a further €1 million available in potential performance-related add-ons. He subsequently committed to a long-term contract running until June 2028, with an option to extend for one additional year that would keep him at the club until 2029.
His contributions during the recent campaign have underlined why the club are reluctant to sanction his departure after just one full season. Simeone scored 11 goals and provided two assists in 32 Serie A appearances, proving a consistent threat in the final third throughout the season. His physical style and ability to find the net regularly made him a valuable component of the Torino attack as they secured a mid-table finish.
The forward’s professional career has been based almost entirely in Italy since he first departed River Plate for Genoa in 2016. Now approaching a decade in Serie A, Simeone has also represented Fiorentina, Cagliari, Hellas Verona and Napoli, developing into an experienced campaigner in one of Europe’s top leagues during his eight years abroad. This extensive Italian experience has transformed him from a raw talent into a proven goalscorer at the highest level.
With his current deal running for several more years and Torino holding a firm financial and sporting stance, any potential return to Argentine football appears complicated. The Granata view the striker as central to their future plans, leaving Simeone with limited leverage to force through a move despite his emotional attachment to River Plate. Unless Torino change their position dramatically, the Argentine appears set to continue his career in Serie A for the foreseeable future.