All the details of the inauguration of the statue of Marcelo Gallardo: who will accompany the DT in the ceremony

Everything is already organized for the inauguration of the statue of Marcelo Gallardo. The face of the bronze mass located next to that of Angel Labruna and facing Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, a few meters from the River Museum, will be unveiled this Thursday 25, day of the institution’s 122nd birthdayin an event that will start at 15:00 and in which, in addition to the Doll, great characters from the club will be present.

Gallardo will be the absolute star of the event to be held at the club’s doorstep. And he will take the microphone to speak to the audience. Together with him and his family, one of the guests will be Juanfer Quintero, Doll’s “footballer”. The 30-year-old left-handed will travel mainly to accompany his friend in this recognition, given that the Colombian championship ended on May 17 and the Mago is on vacation.

Juanfer will not be the only one of the former River players managed by Gallardo. They will be too Rodrigo Mora and Leonardo Pisculichi. And another of those who will try to go is Pity Martínez, but his presence is not confirmed because he has to reunite with Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia, even if he is trying to manage his stay in Argentina for a few more days, after completed an in-country internship on his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee he suffered in February.

In the meantime, there will be other ex-footballers with a close bond with Gallardo, such as the Chilean Marcello Salas, Muñeco’s partner in the multi-champion River of the 1990s. And other important personalities, such as Rodolfo D’Onofrio, former president of the club.

The event will start at 3:00 pm and will be broadcast on ESPN (but not exclusively, as it may also be broadcast on social networks and media attending the event). It will take place near the Monumental (on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, near the internal car park) and the club will remain closed for safety reasons, as a large turnout of River fans is expected.

Naturally, they will need to be aware of the weather conditions. Since the event will have screens, lights and a large number of electrical devices, it will not be able to take place in case of rain. So if that happens the act will be moved to Saturday 4pm.

“I had been insisting for some time that for me the date of the presentation was May 25, given that on December 9 it had been suspended because Argentina were playing in the World Cup (against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals). AND Taking into account that Marcelo may not be there in the future, we spoke to him and he agreed that it was River’s birthday“said Carlos Trillo, River’s former presidential candidate and mentor of this work of more than seven meters high and 6.3 tons of bronze to which fans have contributed keys and other elements of this metal.

And he added: “I’m happy because a gigantic goal is about to be completed that has cost so many people a lot of work and effort. I’m very proud of what all the River fans have done.” Trillo will be together with Mercedes Savall, the sculptor of the work, and the workers who built the foundry.

If it takes place on Thursday, those who cannot be there are the players of the team and the current coaching staff as River will play the same day at night against Sporting Cristal in Lima for the Copa Libertadores, an epoch-making match for the future of the team de Núñez in the current edition of the top continental competition.

“It coincided in the calendar that we are not here. Not only me, The event deserves the presence of the whole River Plate world. It is known that we will not be. But of course we want the event to be with the recognition that the situation deserves and we wish Marcelo (Gallardo) to have his well-known merits,” he said. Martin Demichelis. And he added: “It is known what he means to this institution, so I hope that on Thursday 25 May the world of River Plate will be happy.”

The statue was inspired by a photo Clarín photographer Marcelo Carroll took of Gallardo with the Libertadores raised with their hands to head height on the Santiago Bernabéu playing field.

The work, which will remain forever at the gate of the stadium, was not only the work of Trillo and Savall, the fans also left their mark, with the donation of keys and metal elements to create it. And they will also be protagonists since they will be on May 25th – or when the weather conditions permit it – near the Monument, where an unforgettable party will be held.