With Ramiro Funes Mori already jetting into Liverpool to complete a move to Everton, the Copa Libertadores winning River Plate side is being dismantled rapidly. The jewel in Marcelo Gallardo’s side is undoubtedly 22-year-old Matías Kranevitter and on Tuesday, the combative midfielder will fly to Spain to put pen to paper on a €8 million move to Atlético Madrid.

Importantly for River, the deal will see Kranevitter remain at the Monumental until the end of the year as they look to complete a remarkable year with a league title and possibly the Club World Cup in Japan. In order to do either of these things, Kranevitter will be vital.

A five-year deal with Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid side will be signed next week and will result in Marcelo Gallardo being without his trusted number five for the match against Huracán next weekend. However, the loss of a player, who has rapidly become so indispensible to River, in the long term is more of a blow.

It is of course, inevitable. Such are the finances of Argentine clubs that they are at the mercy of European sides and when a young player shines as brightly as Matías Kranevitter, there is no preventing their departure. For a 22-year-old, who has displayed such maturity in his performances as a defensive midfielder, €8 million appears like another absolute steal for Los Colchoneros.

River will of course miss their midfield lynchpin but profiting from the academy products is a vital part of their economic structure. For Champions League regulars like Atlético, the sum is a drop in the ocean but for River Plate, it is a significant amount which helps balance the books and keep the club afloat. Importantly, River and president Rodolfo D’onofrio have negotiated that this €8 million purchases only 60% of ownership of Kranevitter. If he excels in the Vicente Calderón and ends up making a huge money move elsewhere in Europe, River would pick up 40% of the fee.

This is an unavoidable aspect of Argentine football but Kranevitter has been exposed to first-team football more than most. More than 80 appearances, a league title, a Recopa Sudamericana title and a Copa Libertadores title have more than earned the youngster his move to the riches of European competition.

River keep the accountants happy with a sizeable amount of cash, Kranevitter makes the necessary next step in his development and Atlético pick up a 22-year-old with all the hallmarks of a future Argentina international for only €8 million.

It is a meagre sum that doesn’t get a top club very much in an era of inflated transfer prices but just as Atlético did less than a year previously, with the purchase of Ángel Correa, they have skimmed off a top Argentine talent for a fraction of their potential worth.

As a former River Plate manager and father to another of their promising youngsters, Giovani Simeone, Atléti boss, Diego Simeone knows all about Kranevitter and has been a long term admirer.

If an example is needed for a classic Argentine number 5 then Kranevitter is it. Buzzing around in front of the back four, the 22-year-old looks to win the ball back quickly and start River attacks.

Harrying the opposition into mistakes, Kranevitter is fast and strong into the tackle but rarely rash leading to a high percentage of turnovers but relatively few fouls. However, this defensive duty is just half the job of a traditional number five and so they must be prepared to carry the ball forward and shift the ball from defence into attack.

Kranevitter does just this and although his passing isn’t extraordinary, it is effective. The ball is swiftly moved forward or given to those looking to break forward and attack and efficient use of the ball in this position is the order.

Is he the quickest player? No. Does he offer a goal threat? No. But that really misses the point of what Kranevitter is tasked with and what he does do incredibly well.

At just 22, he shows the maturity to play the role – his positioning, tackling and passing are excellent and once he develops more physically and mentally it would be no surprise to see him become a cornerstone of both Atlético Madrid’s and Argentina’s midfield.