Down South: How River Plate was picked apart after winning the Copa Libertadores

For South America's top clubs, the price of success is calculable, as there is a drastic and unique consequence for those who experience Copa Libertadores euphoria.

At the risk of oversimplifying, a club that wins the Copa Libertadores is, more often than not, then forced to watch as its squad is stripped down to a shell of its former self. Its most talented players are sold to the highest bidder, and a rebuild is undertaken around the remains. This process often transpires during the January transfer window, after the winner of South America's most prestigious club competition has had a chance of testing itself against the winner of the Champions League at the Club World Cup.

In 2016, River Plate is the club being punished for success.

Having won the 2015 Copa Libertadores before being humbled by Barcelona at the 2015 Club World Cup, River is experiencing a makeover, watching as its prized assets exit El Monumental for the promises of European football and larger paychecks. Of course, River knows all about this. Back in 1996, the club was forced to watch Hernan Crespo put pen to paper on a contract with Parma, which was then far from bankrupt, after he scored two goals in the 1996 Copa Libertadores final.

That was nearly two decades ago, though, and River's supporters can be forgiven for forgetting what it feels like to watch their heroes cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Here's a look at those who were lured away from the club after it captured its third Copa Libertadores title in August:

Ramiro Funes Mori, Everton

There is arguably no player who has caused more of a stir from River's Copa Libertadores-winning squad than Ramiro Funes Mori, who joined Everton for a fee of £9.5 million in September, and who was regarded as a flop before he had even taken the pitch at Goodison Park.

It has taken time for Funes Mori to acclimatise to life in the Premier League, but he is, slowly but surely, silencing the haters. Even South American football correspondent Tim Vickery, who insisted he "would be exposed for lack of quality, pace and physicality," wrote something of an apology in November, admitting he "got it wrong" with the Argentinian centre-back.

Carlos Sanchez, Monterrey

In December, Carlos Sanchez became the first Uruguayan in 20 years to be named as El Pais' Best Player of the Americas, an honour stemming from his contribution to River's Copa Libertadores success.

Related: River Plate's Carlos Sanchez named as El Pais' Best Player of the Americas

However, Sanchez, the heart and soul of River's phenomenal 2015 and a force to be reckoned with on the right side of the pitch, is no longer at River, as he joined C.F. Monterrey just in time for the Clausura of the 2015-16 Liga MX season, and made his debut for Los Rayados on Sunday.

Matias Kranevitter, Atletico Madrid

Matias Kranevitter, a holding midfielder who is arguably the player with the brightest future from River's Copa Libertadores-winning squad, joined Atletico Madrid for €8 million last summer but delayed his arrival at the Vicente Calderon until this month so he could compete at the Club World Cup.

In Kranevitter, 22, Atleti possesses a footballer whose style of play bears a striking resemblance to Javier Mascherano's, and who is one the most highly-rated products to have come off Argentinian football's assembly line in recent years.

Atleti, however, will never have Kranevitter's soul.

Fernando Cavenaghi, APOEL FC

Fernando Cavenaghi was another of River's heroes to go out on top, ending his third spell at the club and joining Cypriot side APOEL FC weeks after experiencing Copa Libertadores glory.

Cavenaghi, 32, is a product of River, making his professional debut with the club during the 2000-01 Primera Division. While no one disputes that he lives and breathes River, his exit came as no surprise given he wasn't one of the team's primary options in front of goal, combined with the fact he is incredibly well-travelled.