RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 19 -- Paraguay international striker Lucas Barrios has confirmed his departure from Brazil's Gremio amid mounting speculation linking him to Argentine giants River Plate.

The announcement came less than a week after Gremio lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

"You can be sure that I will always cherish the good times," the former Guangzhou Evergrande player said in an Instagram post. "Gremio will be with me always. I'm very proud to have been a part of the club's history."

Barrios scored 18 goals in 44 appearances for Gremio after joining the Porto Alegre outfit from their Brazilian rivals Palmeiras in February.

He was an integral part of the team which last month won the Copa Libertadores title - South America's top club trophy - by defeating Argentina's Lanus in the final.

Media reports in Argentina and Brazil have reported that River Plate are negotiating to bring the 33-year-old to Buenos Aires in January.

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