In an interview with football journalist Edmunds Novickis on his Patreon platform, Riga FC chief executive Romāns Lajuks addressed the future of one of the club’s key players, João Grimaldo, who spent this season on loan from Partizan with the capital club.
Riga FC secured their first league title since 2020, and one of the standout performers in the championship run was Peruvian international João Grimaldo, who joined the club on loan from Serbian giants Partizan before the season started. Under the terms of the deal, Riga have an option to make the move permanent for a reported €1.5 million. However, Lajuks made it clear that the club is not prepared to pay such a fee.
Grimaldo featured in 36 matches across all competitions this season, scoring five goals and providing ten assists. Although his adaptation period was not easy early on – struggling with artificial pitches and winter conditions – his form improved significantly once the team returned to natural grass. The winger quickly became one of Riga’s most influential players and also impressed in European competition. In the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, he played a crucial role as Riga reached the play-off round, where they narrowly lost 1-2 to Czech powerhouse Sparta Prague. In six European appearances, Grimaldo registered four assists.
Now, attention has turned to what happens next. While Riga technically hold a €1.5 million buy option, the club is actively exploring alternatives. Lajuks confirmed that Riga are looking for a compromise with Partizan, potentially extending the loan under similar conditions to this season rather than committing to a permanent transfer at the current price.
Partizan’s vice-president has publicly stated that Riga are eager to keep the Peruvian, acknowledging the positive impact of his spell in Latvia, which helped him regain his place in the Peruvian national team. However, the Serbian club has rejected one official offer from Riga that fell well below the agreed buyout clause.
Commenting on the negotiations, Lajuks was blunt: Riga are unlikely to spend €1.5 million on a single player. He explained that discussions are ongoing between both clubs and that the sporting department is leading the talks. While a continued loan remains a possibility, if Partizan maintain their valuation, Grimaldo’s future in Riga looks uncertain.
The full interview in Latvian with Riga FC chief executive Romāns Lajuks, in which he discusses the club’s season, the near-dismissal of manager Adrian Gul’a, and other topics, is available on football journalist Edmunds Novickis’ Patreon account.
Source: https://www.patreon.com/c/Edmunds/posts?vanity=Edmunds
