The cold greeting between Martín Demichelis and Enzo Pérez in the preview of the final between River and Estudiantes for the Argentine Super Cup

For Martin Demichelis AND Enzo Perez This final wasn’t just another match Argentina Super Cup In Cordoba. Even though everyone was immersed in his things, morbidity was present after the clash between the two culminated in the departure of the man from Mendoza from River and his arrival at Students from La Plata. Before starting the match, and after greeting his former teammates, Pérez headed towards the River substitutes’ bench and surprised: He went straight to Demichelis and held out his hand, which was shaken by the ‘millionaire’ coach.

The greeting was cordial and cold at the same time. It even seemed as if Demichelis wanted to ignore him by looking away just as Pérez arrived at the substitutes’ bench. The man from Mendoza went down the stairs, held out his hand to Micho and then greeted the rest of the technical staff and the players who were on the bench. He went to all of them with a kiss or a hug.

It was special for the River fans too. When the teams came out to perform pre-competitive movements, Enzo was applauded from all sides. For the Pinchas and also for the Millionaires, obviously. Who feel it as theirs and love it like an idol. Enzo raised his arms and thanked him for his affection.

Not to mention what his family went through, big fans of the red band like Enzo Pérez himself. In fact, a few hours before the match, the central midfielder’s son, Santiago, published an image on Instagram of his father in the locker room, wearing the Estudiantes shirt and behind him the River one. And he accompanied it with two emojis: a broken heart and a crying face. The synthesis of what many inhabitants of River Plate felt in Córdoba. The family itself still couldn’t let go. Both Santiago, Pía, his sister and Florencia, his mother, were at River’s hotel and entered the Kempes with Millonaria’s entourage and River’s clothes. They still can’t believe he left River. And the way he left.

The relationship between Pérez and Micho broke down after the coach’s disagreement with the press, whose criticisms reached the ears of the players. But in reality it was already broken before.

And the factors were different: the coach’s unusual public statements and his visibility on television programs; Football issues and an episode that began to generate distrust: as captain, Enzo Pérez asked the coach to intercede, if necessary, in the conversation about prizes with the league leaders, as Marcelo Gallardo did.

The situation exploded after confrontation with the press. From that moment, despite Demichelis apologizing to the players, there were no further dialogues. And in conversations with his comrades in the concentration rooms, Enzo vented his anger on Micho. Pérez also no longer greeted him. And if they had to talk about some tactical question, they did it through Pinola, who was the interlocutor.

This comparison emerged on December 22 in Santiago del Estero when Pérez played his last match with the red band on his chest, in the Champions Trophy final against Rosario Central. When he came out he greeted everyone except Demichelis.