Rodolfo D’Onofrio, the former president of River Plate, said he holds no grudge against legendary coach Ramón Díaz and revealed that Díaz’s son and representative contacted him to arrange a meeting in which the coach would apologize for past remarks, La Página Millonaria reported.

The clarification came amid swirling speculation that a supposed feud between the two men was blocking Díaz’s return to the River Plate bench. D’Onofrio dismissed that notion outright, while also making clear he has no influence over the club’s current decisions and throwing his full support behind interim coach Leonardo Ponzio.

D’Onofrio Rejects Feud Rumors, Describes Apology Attempt

Speaking Tuesday on the streaming program La Banda de LPM, D’Onofrio said the idea that Díaz’s arrival at River would depend on their personal relationship was “a nonsense,” according to La Página Millonaria. He then detailed the outreach from Díaz’s camp: both his son, Emiliano Díaz, and his representative called to tell D’Onofrio that Ramón Díaz wanted to meet with him to apologize.

“It seems like a dignified gesture, because if someone makes a mistake it’s good that they apologize,” D’Onofrio said, per La Página Millonaria. “It was a stupid thing, because he said something that wasn’t true. He realized it and he’s a good person. We never met.”

The former president’s comments followed weeks of speculation fueled by his social media activity. La Página Millonaria noted that D’Onofrio had recently liked a post citing Emiliano Díaz’s statement suggesting his father wanted to return to River, an interaction that sparked rumors given the popular belief that the historic coach could not return while supposedly feuding with D’Onofrio.

Former President Says He Has No Say in Club Decisions

D’Onofrio also addressed the broader question of his influence at River Plate, insisting he does not interfere with the current administration’s choices. “Do you really think I’m going to put an obstacle in front of the coach River wants?” he said, according to La Página Millonaria. “What do I have to do with opposing it? I don’t opine on players, on coaches, on what they buy, on what they sell, or anything.”

He added that former presidents must be careful with their public opinions. “I think those of us who have been presidents have to be very careful with the opinions we give,” he said, per La Página Millonaria. “If I start opining and say ‘they’re buying wrong or they’re doing this,’ they go and insult them. We have to respect those who run River. I don’t run anything. If I were running River, I would do many things differently.”

D’Onofrio Backs Ponzio Amid Coaching Speculation

Despite his comments about Díaz, D’Onofrio offered unequivocal support for Ponzio, who took over after Eduardo Coudet’s departure. “I give my absolute support to the coaches who are in charge,” D’Onofrio said, according to La Página Millonaria. He described Ponzio as “an extraordinary human being” and praised the gesture of the former captain accepting the job.

“That Ponzio accepted and took this hot potato, because it was really something terrible he was grabbing, is an enormous merit,” D’Onofrio said, per La Página Millonaria. “Enormous respect for an idol. He was captain and accepted being taken off and not playing. That’s someone with team spirit. That’s why I think the players should respect him for that.”

Olé reported that D’Onofrio, who served as Ponzio’s captain for six years, called him “a gentleman” and urged fans not to attack the interim coach. “Now we have to support him. At this moment it’s Ponzio,” D’Onofrio said, according to Olé. “It would be stupid for River fans to be attacking someone who, in some way, voluntarily offered himself for this and who is an idol of the club.”

Shift in Stance on Díaz’s Potential Return

While denying any personal rift with Díaz, D’Onofrio also signaled a change from his earlier dismissive posture toward the coach’s possible return. In an interview with Todo Noticias, he said Díaz “evidently left a very good image” at River and that if the club’s president decides to bring him back, “I’m going to support it,” Olé reported.

El Intransigente quoted D’Onofrio as saying: “In River, Ramón left a very good image. If the president of River decides to bring Ramón Díaz, I’m going to support bringing Ramón Díaz. But today it’s Ponzio and he’s an idol of River.” The outlet noted this marked a shift from months earlier, when D’Onofrio had tersely told reporters “I don’t see it” when asked about Díaz’s chances of returning as Coudet’s cycle faltered.

The decision on whether to hire Díaz now rests with River’s current president, Stéfano Di Carlo, El Intransigente reported. The club’s leadership is looking toward 2027 and has not yet defined whether Ponzio will continue in his role.

Context: A Season of Managerial Turnover

The speculation over Díaz comes after a turbulent period at River Plate. Following Coudet’s exit, fans loudly demanded the return of the 67-year-old coach, who has won nine titles in three previous stints at the club, including the 1996 Copa Libertadores, according to El Intransigente and IUSPORT.

Perfil columnist noted that if Díaz were to take over, it would mark the fourth coach for River in a single year, following Marcelo Gallardo, Coudet, and Ponzio.

IUSPORT reported that Díaz, who recently received an offer from Brazil, had told La Página Millonaria in a prior interview: “I want to take a club, win the championship, and retire. Do I want to return to River? Whenever they want.” According to El Intransigente, Díaz had also been offered a role where his son Emiliano would be the sole coach, but he rejected it because he wanted to accompany his father.

What Remains Open

Whether D’Onofrio’s support translates into Díaz actually returning depends entirely on Di Carlo, El Intransigente reported. D’Onofrio did not present the return as an initiated negotiation nor confirm that the club will summon the coach. The next step belongs to the current president: deciding whether to call him.