OneFootball
·27. Januar 2026
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·27. Januar 2026
The captain's return will have to wait. Franco Armani, who had already missed the debut due to a calf tear, has encountered a new physical setback: an inflammation in the heel of his right leg. This issue officially sidelines him from this Wednesday's match against Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and puts him in serious doubt for the visit to Rosario Central next Sunday.
At 39 years old, the "Pulpo" is experiencing an unusual start to 2026, marked by inactivity. River's medical team will evaluate his progress day by day, hoping he can reappear by the fourth match against Tigre at the Monumental. In this scenario, the responsibility falls once again on the young Santiago Beltrán.
At just 21 years old and with three official matches, Beltrán has become Marcelo Gallardo's firefighter. His numbers so far are impeccable. He has not conceded any goals in his appearances, where he saved a crucial penalty against Peñarol.

It is paradoxical that, while River suffers from the injuries of their experienced goalkeepers, on Sunday they must face Jeremías Ledesma, who belongs to the club but was loaned to Rosario Central. For now, the "Muñeco" reaffirms his confidence in the youth academy to maintain the lead at the start of the Torneo Apertura.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
📸 Marcelo Endelli - 2025 Getty Images









































