There is a clamor in
River
for a world champion.
This is
Nicolás Otamendi
, the defender who had a great World Cup and who was a piece in the path of the
Argentine National Team
in
Qatar
.
And that, as is already known, he is a fan of River.
So, the public declarations of members of the River Plate planet are reiterated with the request to the central marker so that in June he comes to the country and puts on the red band on his chest.
Now, it was Franco Armani's turn to express the wish, Otamendi's teammate in the National Team and also world champion.
"
Hopefully we can have Otamendi here
, he is a player with a great career, experience, hierarchy. Hopefully in the middle of the year he can make that decision, to come to River and obviously we are going to be waiting for him with open arms as we do with all the players that come to the institution. He will be thinking about what he will do from here to the middle of the year but God wants it to happen because having a player of that magnitude here with us would be spectacular. Hopefully it can happen, it's his decision , and behind him is the family too," said the goalkeeper at the press conference he gave after River's training session this Tuesday at Ezeiza.
Armani joined the message of Ignacio Fernández
, who, laughing, on Saturday, after the victory over Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero.
"Hopefully all those who want to come back and there is someone who came out world champion who is always there, so hopefully he comes too, we are waiting for him," said Nacho, in clear reference to Otamendi.
Martín Demichelis had already done his job when, already dressed as River's coach, at a press conference, he sent a direct message to Otamendi, before the World Cup ended.
"Nico, I'm talking to you. I want you to be a world champion and come fulfill your dream of playing for River so that all Argentine soccer can honor you. At 34 years old, you are one of the best defenders in the World Cup," said Micho.
The contacts are
There are public and private messages.
The president of River, Jorge Brito, admitted that they will try to go after him.
"Otamendi has a contract with Benfica and when the time comes we will try to talk to him. It would be very important to have a player of his hierarchy," said the head of the Núñez club.
And even Otamendi himself also sends signals.
He continues to display his fanaticism for the club through his social networks.
In a video that he uploaded to his Instagram account, from the plane that transported the Benfica squad to play against Arouca in the Portuguese League, he showed the thermos of mate that has a River label.
Otamendi has a contract with the Portuguese club until June 30 and has not decided his future yet.
According to what Clarín was able to find out, beyond the fact that he has the chance to renew for another year at Benfica, he is tempted by the chance to return to Argentine soccer and wear the shirt of the club he is a fan of.
In other responses, Armani, who shared a month in Qatar with Otamendi, continued with the seduction plan.
"At River we are still a family. That concept continues intact even after the coaching staff changed. They have the same line, the same mentality and the vast majority of the players we are with have been at the club for several years now. River is still family. We support whoever arrives, and that will never be lost. We continue to be the same family we always were. And hopefully this family can welcome Otamendi in June," said the world champion goalkeeper.
More from Armani: Between the excitement of the World Cup, the role of leader and the enthusiasm to keep winning
Franco Armani left other definitions in the press conference he gave at the Ezeiza RiverCamp, ranging from recognition for having been World Champion to the new ideas of Martín Demichelis and his future as a goalkeeper.
Recognition for being world champion:
"It is a great joy to be able to have this recognition, from the first moment I left the locker room, stepped onto the playing field, went to warm up, it was a very nice, exciting reception. I am very grateful to the people of Santiago del Estero, to the River fans, and also to the Central Córdoba fans who received me in a very good way. It is a great care for me and it gives me a lot of motivation and joy to be able to keep winning things. The World Cup for every player is the ultimate achievement, it's enjoyable but at the same time I want to keep winning things."
The operation of the team:
"The most important thing to rescue from the beginning of this new stage is defensive solidity. Since we started the first friendlies in the new era of Martín (Demichelis), we started with that idea of being a solid team in defense and keep the goal at zero. We know that at any moment of the game we will have scoring options and that was what happened in the friendlies and in the debut in the League. We must continue in this way to gain confidence and winning becomes more It's easy to work and correct mistakes. I also rescue the proper functioning of the team in all its lines, with a clear idea of the game that is what Martín wants and is what he instills in us every day. We must continue along this line".
The idea of playing from below:
"I feel very comfortable, I've done it when I was at Nacional, with two different coaches. In the United States, in friendlies, it went very well. There were many moments when we started the game in our arc and we ended up in the rival goal. Saturday could not be done because the pitch was not good. But another game idea that we also had prepared was carried out. Obviously there are moments, there are other plans, especially when the opposing team presses a lot There are different situations in which one on the field of play has to make a decision and try to make it in the best way".
Leadership:
"A leader can be formed. I speak from my side, that I was taking leadership over time. I grew and I was guided by the greatest when I arrived at River, by Leonardo Ponzio, by Javier Pinola and Today I am together with Enzo Pérez in that place and it is growing day by day. Some have the virtue of being born with that leadership and others do not, we are learning it over time. And that touched me and age makes you more mature and you learn from day to day".
Support for younger teammates:
"Both Ezequiel Centurión, Franco Petroli and Lucas Lavagnino are great guys who are working very well and growing and it's a joy to have them as teammates. Regarding Ezequiel, he had great growth, It helped him a lot to be able to leave the club and have continuity in Estudiantes de Buenos Aires and play, he came with a different head, more prepared, more mature and he was seen when he had to play, with great performances. When he has the chance to play, you have to support him On my side in training I have to talk to them and correct them when I have to. And we also have a goalkeeping coach who is Alejandro (Saccone)".
The future:
"I didn't get to think about my future. I live from day to day, I enjoy day to day, which is the most important thing. I feel happy here in River, I'm in the place where I want to be, but not yet I think about analyzing my future. It will be seen over time. I think and enjoy the day to day and my teammates and the new coaching staff and that is the main thing. The other will be seen over time".