Santiago Montiel, the story of the former River player who embittered him on his debut against Argentinos and vented his frustration in celebration: “They were mixed emotions”

How many times has Santiago Montiel put his head on the pillow and dreamed of scoring a goal in a Monumental stadium full of River fans? Certainly many, but in all of them he wore the Millionaire shirt. This Sunday, the left back partially fulfilled that wish: he scored a great goal for his current team, Argentinos Juniors, redeeming a 1-1 draw at the start of the Professional League Cup. The celebration, in which he showed his number to the River Plate fans, exacerbated an old wound and a story that replayed itself in the corridors of the Núñez pitch.

Because Santiago is the cousin of the world champion Gonzalo Montiel and, like the one who converted the penalty to give the third star to the Argentine national team, he reached the Inferiores nel River. And when it seemed that the moment for his debut in the First Division had arrived, that objective slipped away in the first months of 2022.

Although he was not usually a starter in the Reserve led by Jonathan La Rosa, Marcelo Gallardo’s brother-in-law, Montiel – category 2000 – was in consideration, immediately behind Filippo Salomoniwho made his debut with The Doll and who was supposed to take over Milton helmet.

There were short circuits between Santiago Montiel and the technical staff, with cross accusations. One said that they did not take him into consideration during the jump, the others that the player did not meet the fundamental aspects of a professional footballer when he was away from the playing fields.

That path, inevitably, led the left back to not want to organize the extension of his contract, which arrived in mid-2022, and to have to train alone until waiting for an alternative for his career.

Eventually, he achieved free agency and signed his bond with Bicho de la Paternal in February 2023 without having debuted in the Primera del Millonario.

Gabriel Milito’s ear pulls

Montiel’s landing in El Bicho was also not easy. Beyond his footballing conditions, there was an attitudinal problem that he tried to correct with the advice of coach Gabriel Milito. His debut was unusual: He received two yellow cards nine minutes against Racing in February 2023.

Later, in a match against Platense, Montiel was sent off late for excessive goal celebration at La Paternal.

That said, his coach challenged him for his actions in the middle of the field, grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him from side to side.

However, Milito’s advice did not have the desired effect on the youngster, because a few days later he saw red as soon as the match against Independiente del Valle in Ecuador ended, a sending off which Milito learned about in the middle of a press conference.

“Wasn’t it yellow? Ah, it was expulsion. Poof…”, the coach sighed with a displeased face. And after leaving a tense silence in the room, he immediately declared: “We will talk to Santi. I also didn’t think they sent him off. He has to learn. It already happened against Platense, I thought he had learned. He repeated it today. He will have to learn and if not, he will suffer the consequences.”.

And filled with despair, the former Estudiantes de La Plata coach continued to make his defense public in front of the cameras. “The level is high. He is too young to be expelled for protest. Either he learns and changes, otherwise he will miss the boat”he expressed himself fervently regarding the young man, in the form of an ultimatum.

But Montiel got angry once again and saw red again in the round of 16 rematch against Fluminense for ironically applauding a judge’s decision.

From double attachment to triple dedication

Obviously, Santiago Montiel learned. At least he remained in the consideration of Pablo Guede, Gabriel Milito’s replacement, who sent him onto the pitch on Sunday to try to equalize against River, who had taken the lead thanks to a nice finish from the Colombian Miguel Borja.

And shortly after, the left-hander received the ball near the crescent, made a double hook to pass between three rivals and shot with the inside of his left foot to overcome the resistance that Franco Armani had had up to that point. It was his third goal – the other two were in the Professional League – in 47 games played in the First Division.

Montiel ran to the corner, received a hug from his teammates and, before heading back to midfield, grabbed his shirt, showing his number in front of the River fans.

“I have mixed emotions”, he confessed more calmly in the post-match interview on official television. She shouted it with soul and life, and even a little anger. “You would never imagine experiencing this, I’ve done all the Inferiore here up to Reserva. I’m a fan, the celebration was due to the mixed emotions of everything I’ve been through, all the journey I’ve been on… my baby on the way.”He said.

And he added with a wish, amidst laughter: “It was just a celebration, I’m a River fan. I apologize if people or players made mistakes. Gonzalo told me that he was going to watch the match, I hope he isn’t angry about the goal.”.