Rafael Soares ruthless on Otamendi: Benfica exit a year late | OneFootball

The renewal of Nicolás Otamendi’s contract is a topic that continues to generate a lot of discussion. It is said that Benfica want to keep counting on the experienced defender in 2026/27, but there is interest from River Plate in signing him. For Rafael Soares, the Argentine should have left last season.

"Otamendi’s departure is the most likely scenario at this point, and it seems to me that it is the right timing for all parties, if it isn’t already arriving a year late", he said on a podcast by the newspaper Record. The captain still does not have a concrete decision at this stage.

The journalist from the same media outlet reinforced his words. "If we look at Otamendi’s season, the truth is that he has been a particularly erratic and often disoriented centre-back; we remember the red card against Braga and worrying mistakes in very important matches, such as against Juventus," he stressed.

Another journalist who has already commented on this topic was Pedro Sousa. "Otamendi’s continuity at Benfica depends on many things. What he may have spoken about with the River Plate coach matters little, and paradoxical as it may seem, the fact that he will no longer be with the national team from June onwards harms the chances of continuing in Europe. In other words, for example, he no longer needs the visibility of the Champions League in order to be called up for international duty," he said.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.