River and millions for Enzo Fernández: from Otamendi to Lanzini, who are the ‘fans’ he will be looking for in June

River permission to dream Enthusiasm for the good start of the era of Martin Demichelis, added to an economy that increases its coffers, makes the illusion of still fighting for all the titles hold up. And again: they are already thinking about a football project to be able to compete with the Brazilian teams for the Copa Libertadores.

In River the accounts speak for themselves. With the mega work of Monumental practically all self-financed with genuine income, the millionaire fire sale of Enzo Fernández create an incentive for football investment. And even if the money (of the 50 million euros between the sale to Benfica and the 25% of the transfer from the Portuguese club to Chelsea, about 40 million euros net will remain at River) for the sale of Enzo Fernández will go in installments and in a five years from here, as confirmed by the management, that economic ceiling added to an orderly economy, makes a high-ranking team dream.

Although this summer’s transfer market, which closed on Thursday, has been very good for River and Demichelis has called it “the best in Argentine football”, Núñez will soon start work on the next reinforcement window, the mid-year one. And for that moment – as this newspaper has been able to learn – there are four latent desires: Nicolás Otamendi, Ramiro Funes Mori, Roberto Pereyra and Manuel Lanzini.

Otamendi is no longer a secret. Several River Plate players have made public their hopes that the reigning world champion and well-known River Plate fan will wear the red armband from July, after the end of his contract with Benfica.

First it was Demichelis, when he said: “Nico, I’m talking to you. I want you to be World Champion and that you come to fulfill your dream of playing for River so that all of Argentine football can honor you. At 34, you are one of the best defenders in the World Cup.”

After, Nacho Fernándezwho said: “I hope everyone who wants to come back comes back and there is someone who came out as a world champion who is always there, so let’s hope he comes too, we are waiting for him”.

And also a few days ago FrancoArmani. “We hope to have Otamendi here, he is a player with a great career, experience, hierarchy. We hope that in the middle of the year he will come to River. We we will wait with open arms as we do with all the players who come to the institute. God wants it to happen because having a player of that size here with us would be spectacular,” said the world champion goalkeeper, Ota’s teammate in the national team.

Contacts are There are public and private messages. The President of the River George Brito, he admitted that they will try to go for 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 from his hierarchy” said the head of the Nunez club.

And not only with Otamendi there are contacts and messages. There is an idea that is already a state policy in River, which is to try to repatriate players born in the club or who have had an important step, as happened in this market with Matías Kranevitter and Nacho Fernández. Thus, three names emerged from the club’s quarry appear on the horizon, which in the middle of the year will remain with the pass in their possession.

One of them is Ramiro Funes Mori, who are expecting the keeper from the left side of the defense again. In the latter transfer market, River has finally given up aiming for a second central scorer, given that they reported that the team was doing well, but for the second half they would try to have the return of the Twin, who made his debut in the First Division with Matías Almeyda in 2011 and became owner and figure with Marcelo Gallardo. Ramiro is at Cruz Azul in Mexico, but his contract expires in the middle of the year.

Another footballer who has long sounded like a possible reinforcement is Robert Pereyra. Tucuman, today at Udinese of Italy (he also passed from Juventus and Watford of England), will keep the pass in his possession also in June. And in Núñez they want to count on his return.

Pereyra left the club, but did not have time to explode as he was quickly sold after having to play in a very difficult context, in the 2010-2011 season, when River was downgraded.

And the remaining player is perhaps one of the most difficult figures. Regard Manuel Lanziniof which there has also been talk for some time of a possible return, but more illusory, not only by the club, but also by the player and his family, all River fans.

Lanzini left River at the age of just 21 in 2014. He was champion with the team Ramon Diaz and got to play the first official match (against Ferro in Salta for the Argentine Cup) of the Gallardo cycle and then he was transferred to Al-Jazira of the United Arab Emirates and from there he made the leap to West Ham United of England, where he currently remains. His contract expires in the middle of this 2023 and it will be necessary to see if already with 30 years he thinks it is convenient to return or wait for an offer to continue for a while longer in Europe.

The four players, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Pereyra and Lanzini share a common fanaticism for River. Three of them (except Otamendi) emerged from the Núñez quarry. One of them – “Ota” – is from Selection. And the other three also wore the Argentine shirt: Ramiro took part in the stages of “Tata” Martino and Edgardo Bauza; “Tucu” also with Martino and Manu, with Jorge Sampaoli (he had called him up for the World Cup in Russia, but a ligament injury in his right knee had ruled him out) and some friendlies with Lionel Scaloni.

Now, River dreams of them. And he will try to have them in the middle of the year to form a top-level team with a lot of hierarchy.