The operation to seduce Otamendi, Funes Mori and two other exes: what the next market of the Demichelis river pass will be like

to win the Libertadores Cup, central hierarchy markers are required. It is one of the many old axioms that have been repeated since the origins of this competition. And that beyond the changes in football, it is still valid. In River they know. That’s why in the middle of the year they’ll be looking to make a strong commitment to putting together a defense accustomed to big battles.

The goal is clear. The idea is to join Nicolás Otamendi and Ramiro Funes Mori. Two players with different realities, but with proven experience. One comes from being a world champion and playing Champions League. The other is in Mexican soccer. But he knows the club, he played at River and at one point was a player for the national team.

With the elimination of Benfica at the hands of Inter in the quarter-finals of the European Champions League, now Otamendi’s seduction operation can proceed. We know: the central scorer is a fan of River and has the desire to wear the red armband before leaving football. At almost 35 years old, still on the force and with a contract with the Portuguese club expiring in June, it could be the right time. Especially if River manages to advance to the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores.

As far as he could find out clarion, the talks are permanent with the representative and the environment of Otamendi. And if the dialogue started with the player when he was in the country for Argentina’s friendlies with Panama and Curaçao in March, as part of the celebrations for the national team’s third World Cup, hasn’t intensified, it was because the defender has fully involved in the competition with Benfica in the Champions League.

But, now, beyond the difficulties that may exist, they will try to move forward. “We know about Nicolás Otamendi’s desire. But we also know about the numbers Benfica manages. For now it’s difficult, unless he says he wants to sit at a table with us”admitted the sporting director of River, Enzo Francescoli.

The idea is precisely to try to make this dialogue happen at a table. And thus begin to have formal talks so that the landing of Otamendi becomes a reality and materializes the seduction operation begun with a public statement by Martín Demichelis, shortly after taking over the technical direction of the River.

“I came out as world champion and then I got to the River”He said Micho at a press conference while the World Cup was still being played in Qatar. The River manager has also known Otamendi since they were teammates at Manchester City and the national team.

After Demicheli, Franco Armani, Otamendi’s teammate in the national team, also attempted it. “We will wait you”, he said in his first post-world press conference. And Nacho Fernández did the same: “There is a world champion who is talking about who could come. Let him come, we are waiting for him”.

And the management has also done its duty. On the night of March 23, after the national team’s celebrations at the Monumental, they gave River shirts to several players, including (even those who left the club and Lionel Messi) Otamendi, given his fanaticism for the club. Eight he brought his red armband with the number 19 on his back to his home.

Faced with this situation, the defender commented: “I’m a River fan, they already know it. And I’m grateful to River. It is a source of pride that a club of this magnitude praises you as it does, I receive so much affection from the people and this makes me happy.” And he added: “I know Micho and I was flattered by what he said about me.”

As for Funes Mori, it seems simpler. is that the Twin He remains with the pass in his possession in the middle of the year and would leave Cruz Azul de México. In short, everything suggested that at 32 he would return to River, from where he left eight years ago, after winning the 2015 Copa Libertadores, when he was transferred to Everton in England. Furthermore, at that time he was part of Gerardo Martino’s squad for the national team. There have already been contacts with him and there are great possibilities that he will be able to wear the River shirt again.

Other names that seduce

Another surname that always turns by the will of the player is that of Manuel Lanzini: Manu plans to return sooner rather than later, but the current economic situation still binds him to Europe. His relationship with West Ham ends in June, which has a clause to extend it automatically if the parties agree: his return will obviously not depend on a River who, in addition to having good finances, cannot compete with the mighty Premier League. And much less in the harsh economic context of the country.

Another name with which one dreams is that of Robert Pereyra: He tuco, still with a contract at Udinese, has been in contact with the River board for some time. Even if his return could be delayed given that, at 32, he still has a strong market in Europe, to the point that several Italian clubs have probed him, including Inter.

And the sin Martinez? The man from Mendoza has another season of meetings with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr ahead of him, while he is in Buenos Aires recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and during the World Cup in Qatar he was in contact with part of the Fiume leadership. His return could take place but not now, but in 2024.

Meanwhile, the rumors that have arisen about it the chances of James Rodríguez and Alexis Sánchez arriving at the club are baseless. The club has denied that both have the opportunity to wear the River shirt, at least in the short term.