Regarding the signing of Salomón Rondón, we remember the last Venezuelan who not only played for River but was also part of a historic squad for the club.
Solomon Rondon became a new player Riverbed on January 30, 2023. The striker and all-time top scorer for the Venezuelan football team became a ‘millionaire’ after adding just minutes in his final season with Everton in the Premier League. Nevertheless, the news is good news for many fans of the “Vinotinto” and it is expected that one of their compatriots will wear the jersey of one of the greatest teams in South America.
However, it is not the first time Venezuela has had its own representative in River Plate. More than 10 years have passed but the last Venezuelan footballer to join classic rivals Boca Juniors did so under very different circumstances that led to him becoming part of a team and historic season for River. Do you remember who was the only Venezuelan to play for the Argentine club before Rondón?
River Plate’s first and only Venezuelan to have played Primera B
After a good Copa America 2011 with Venezuela, “El Maestrico” Cesar Gonzalez he became River Plate’s first Venezuelan player in history. At the age of 28, González became a “millionaire” after defending other clubs in the Argentine league: Colón de Santa Fe (2007-2008), Huracán (2008-2009) and Gimnasia y Esgrima (2011).
However, his commitment to River Plate extended beyond his fourth Argentinian football experience: “El Maestrico” González would be one of those chosen for the team to play in the second division after suffering the first relegation in its entire history. Led by Matías Almeyda, he shared a dressing room with the likes of Carlos Sánchez and David Trezeguet, and also wore the “10” on his back.
César ‘El Maestrico’ González played 15 games for River Plate in the 2011/12 season. Photo: Infobae
How did César ‘El Maestrico’ González fare at River Plate?
César González’s debut in a River Plate shirt came on 11 September 2011 in a 2-2 draw against Defensa y Justicia on Day 5 of Primera B. “El Maestrico” was not the undisputed starter and played 15 games alone (12 in the league and 3 in the Argentine Cup). He scored his only goal on 13 May 2012, when he scored the 1-1 partial goal after a Fernando Cavenaghi pass in a 2-4 win against Atlético Tucumán.
Although he wasn’t among the players to add more minutes at River in 2011/12, the ‘maestrico’ gave up when needed and he is still fondly remembered by many fans of the Argentine club. Not only that, González featured in the unforgettable 2-0 win over Almirante Brown on July 23, 2012, the day of River Plate’s celebrated promotion to the Premier League.