BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Paraguayan soccer player, Juan Manuel Iturbe, from Portugal' s FC Porto, was loaned to Argentina' s River Plate for a six-month term.

Iturbe, 19, announced the loan on Twitter, while River Plate' s Vice President, Diego Turnes, also confirmed the news while interviewed by local radio station "La Red."

"We are all very glad because we reached an agreement. After long negotiations with Port, we finally signed the contract," said Turnes.

Itube played in Paraguay' s Cerro Porteno for several years. Previously, he had been part of Argentina' s Quilmes Atletico Club, where he had outstanding performances.

Iturbe is called the "Paraguayan Messi" , in reference to the Argentinean soccer star.

The Paraguayan star played the U-20 South American Championship in Argentina, which is currently in the final stage, but Paraguay was eliminated, the same as Brazil.

According to Turnes, if Iturbe is sold in the next players' market, River won' t have to pay 600,000 US dollars for the six-month loan.