Coudet confirms Armani will return to the River squad | OneFootball

Amid the euphoria over the epic and incredible qualification against San Lorenzo, Eduardo Coudet let slip a piece of news that, today, might not seem to make much noise, but was highly anticipated in the first months of the year. For Wednesday’s match against Gimnasia, Franco Armani will be called up again for River.

Since arriving at the club at the start of 2018, the Pulpo never had his place at risk. An undisputed starter, standout player, leader, and captain, the world champion went through eight years of consistency that turned him into a River idol. However, 2026 found him going from one injury to another and, at 39 years old, everything indicates that he will return as Santiago Beltrán’s backup.

“By Wednesday, Franco should already be available,” Chacho clarified at a press conference. The truth is that he will be among those called up and will have a place on the substitutes’ bench. Of course, after the 21-year-old kid’s red card in the Copa Sudamericana, Armani is expected to play his second match of the year against Bragantino on Wednesday, May 20, at the Monumental.

A poorly healed muscle tear, tendinitis in the Achilles tendon of that same leg, and subsequent fibrosis kept him off the field from the very start of preseason. The world champion only played the first 45 minutes in the loss to Vélez on February 22, and then did not play in goal again. Just one half in nearly six months and, finally, a return to the squad list.

Unexpectedly, Armani ended up losing his place through injury to the team’s fourth-choice goalkeeper. After letting Conan Ledesma go to Rosario Central and bringing Ezequiel Centurión back from Independiente Rivadavia to be the backup, no one expected Beltrán’s breakthrough. But it happened, and in Núñez it has been one of the most pleasant surprises of recent years.

That is why, while highlighting the world champion’s return to the group, Coudet also praised the performances of the young player, who has made 22 appearances in the top flight (all this year). “What stands out to me most is that he’s a goalkeeper for a big team. He made the saves he had to make, and the penalties too. It’s very complex to be a goalkeeper for a team that faces very few shots. He’s doing very well,” he emphasized.

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