Lucas Beltrán, from his beginnings as a water carrier for Dybala to becoming a key forward of the River de Gallardo for the Superclásico against Boca

—Guariiiniii, Guariiiniii … Come, I have Beltrán’s father on the phone “…

It was a weekend in 2015 and a part of the River’s Inferiores delegation was at Tita Mattiussi’s headquarters as there was an appointment against Racing. Therefore, Gabriele Rodriguezhistorical coordinator of the minor divisions of the Núñez club (he hired Marcelo Gallardo, among other great figures) contacted the father of Luca Beltran to let him know the interest in his son, who a week earlier, Juanjo Borrelli he had kept an eye on him when they went to play against the Instituto de Córdoba.

Fernando Guarini, at that time president of River Amateur Football, hearing Rodríguez’s call, went to him and picked up the phone. A few minutes of conversation were enough to begin to seal the agreement on the arrival of Beltrán, from whom they bought 90 percent of the pass and the following year he joined the Eighth “Millionaire” division.

That weekend in Córdoba, in which Borrelli was dazzled by Beltrán’s goals, seemed marked by the fate of that “torito” from Córdoba who came into the world on 29 March 2001 to be part of a very footballing family from Córdoba, the capital. At that time his brothers, Santiago, category ’92 and Federico, ’93, studied (like his older sister) at the Corazón de María school and played football in the school children’s teams. And Beltrán would follow the same path years later.

When he left the arms of his parents, Walter and Adriana, Lucas began to take his first steps in football in intercollegiate tournaments that were played on grass and with seven players. And to annoy adults with every child’s antics.

Most people who know Beltrán best agree that the disturbance was the leitmotif that led this Aryan warrior to score his goals as at 21 he is the hope of River’s goal on Sunday at the Bombonera, much more after the match. injury of Pablo Solari.

To the “Viking”, nickname he earned for his complexion, this opportunity did not happen to him by chance, but was the product of a continuous effort, which knew no pauses and a stubbornness for the goal. The story began in Corazón de María when he was 8 and continued at the Instituto de Córdoba, where he was taken Paul Alvarezyouth training technician who is currently a field assistant at Unión San Felipe in Chile and was the first coach of Beltrán, whom he has known since he used a pacifier.

“I met Lucas when he was little because he trained his older brothers. And he was always among the greatest and brought them water. Until he started playing and I saw that he had the strength of Santiago, the greatest and the quality of Federico, Paulo Dybala’s teammate and he came to play in the Primera de Instituto “, he recalls talking with Clarione Álvarez, who continues to have a relationship with both Lucas and his family. And he says that “Beltrán’s story is a story of perseverance because he is a hard-headed man who does not give up on anything, who has quality and humility and has always been a good teammate and leader”.

Lucas was so involved, he was among the grown-ups, that when Federico was part of the Selective Institute, he, small but morrudo, accompanied him and handed the bottles of water not only to his brother and classmates, but also to those of the First, who they trained with them. And among those players there was a jewel, paolo dibala. Little Beltrán was very attached to him as the current Roma and Argentine national team player is a close friend of his brother Federico (they played together) and he also lived for a while in the Beltrán home. And today Lucas has him as his main reference.

Like Dybala, Beltrán grew up and trained at the La Agustina de Instituto property. And Pablo Álvarez was responsible for the jump from the child to the eleven camp. And also to change position. «I took him to the Institute and addressed him for the first time on the field of eleven. In seven I played as a midfielder, but in eleven I played him as a 9 ”. And he did it despite the discomfort of an important person in Lucas’ life. “Adriana, the mother, questioned my decision. Both she and her husband, Walter, are very passionate about football. But I saw that in the eleventh he had a long way to go to make the band, so since he had power and I put a goal in the ninth and it didn’t go badly, eh, ”recalls Pablo. And he gives one of the keys to why Lucas has reached the Argentine football elite: “he is very strong mentally”.

That mentality led him to leave his hometown to settle in River’s guesthouse. And Borrelli was the first to help him grow in the club. “I remember that we went to play for River 2001 in Córdoba against the Instituto and the truth is that the ‘fat’ surprised. We were also with Gabriel (Rodríguez), we had his father’s phone number to talk to him and Guarini made arrangements to bring him. And then we played again against the Instituto, we beat them, but the ´paffuto´ broke up again. He scored goals for us in both games. He was a beast, “Juanjo said Clarione and he appreciated the speed with which the club moved because behind also Racing and San Lorenzo. Meanwhile, speaking of the attacker’s present, he added: “I am happy with what he is experiencing because he has always fought for this, he had to go to another club to establish himself and today he is fundamental in the River and can be fundamental in the Bombonera.”

Beltrán started playing for River in 2016, in the eighth division. He went to the seventh and almost failed to play in the sixth because he made the jump to the reserve. “I uploaded him because when I saw that he made a difference and I tried to enhance him to prepare him to the rhythm of the First Division”, he told this newspaper Luigi Villalbaformer coach of the River Reserve, who recalls a great anecdote that includes not only Beltrán but also Julian Alvarez.

They were the forwards of the team and in a preseason friendly in San Jorge I saw that it was difficult for them to go back. So, in a chat in the locker room, I showed them the video. And I told them: ‘Look. They look like two ladies shopping on Florida Street ‘. And they burst out laughing. They took it well and realized they had to do the work of racing to press and have more dedication, ”Villalba recalled with a laugh.

Speaking of Beltrán’s characteristics, he declared: “He is unbearable, when he doesn’t have the ball and when River has it also because he goes into the spaces. It is valid for everyone he runs on you, does not let you play comfortably, and the opposing defender itches on all sides and if he does not make it he slaps you … It is not good to face him. And as regards the technical aspect, he highlighted: “Technically he is good, he knows how to dribble forward, he likes to go into the spaces, maybe he needs to find better choices to define, but he will find it with the party and he still has a lot to give. “.

And if it comes to facing rival defenders, it will be an excellent test for Beltrán to compete with those of Boca. In this sense, Daniele Onega He believes it will be fundamental for the clash with Marcos Rojo and his teammates. “I think he can give River a lot in this match as Boca have strong central defenders and Beltrán doesn’t wrinkle, he goes on the bench. And since he is not a box 9, he can also start from behind and pass a goal to a teammate. It can be a good match to stand out, ”said“ Tito ”, an authorized voice.

After distinguishing himself in the river reserve, for Beltrán came the call of Gallardo, who made his debut in the First Division at the age of 17, against Gimnasia at Monumental on 2 December 2018, a week before the Copa Libertadores final in Madrid. But it was difficult for Lucas to establish himself. And after three years he was transferred to Colón, where he played for a year and struggled to return since the bond ended at the end of this 2022 but the Doll wanted him in the middle of the year. And on his return he scored four goals and has five at the River.

Where everyone they have talked to Clarione agreed is that going on loan to the Santa Fe club was good for Beltrán because he gained continuity, confidence and more pace from the First Division and scored goals. One of these, at Boca in the Bombonera, where he has already played with the River shirt, being a starter in Superclásico on January 2, 2021. Now he will have a new opportunity. And now he will be looking for a special scream with the red sash. A scream for goals that can be as valid as Rodríguez’s to call Guarini.