In 1931 when professionalism was legalized in Argentinian football, River paid Club Sportivo Buenos Aires 10,000 pesos for Carlos Peucelle . The following season they laid out 35,000 pesos for Bernabé Ferreyra. The club became known as Los Millonarios- Peucelle was El Primer Millonario- the first of the millionaires.
By the time he joined River the 23 year old Peucelle had played in the 1930 World Cup Final (scoring in the semi final and the final) and been a part of Argentina's successful 1929 Copa America team. Domestic success came with River, 4 Premier Division titles and a further Copa America winners medal in 1937.
Peucelle was notoriously versatile; he could play effectively in just about any outfield position, and gloried in the nickname Barullo (something akin to commotion).