Otamendi won’t renew with Benfica, River move is imminent | OneFootball

The Portuguese press reported that the center-back is spending his final days as an Eagles player. River has already made him an offer and is waiting for him with open arms after the World Cup.

River got the nod it had been waiting for from Portugal. What had been an open secret was finally confirmed this Thursday: Nicolás Otamendi informed Benfica’s board that he will not renew his contract, and everything is now in place for him to fulfill his dream of wearing the red sash after playing in his fourth and final World Cup with the Argentina national team.

That was confirmed by the newspaper Récord: “He has a free path to sign for River Plate”. For some time, the experienced defender had been considering the idea of returning to Argentina to wear the jersey of the club he loves. And now, at the close of the European season, the stage is set: his contract expires on June 30 and he will be able to leave on a free transfer.

Otamendi will leave Benfica through the front door. Across his two spells with the Eagles, he became a leader, captain, and club idol. He has totaled 280 matches, 18 goals, 14 assists, and four titles, numbers that explain why his departure represents a major blow for the Lisbon giant.

Next Saturday, away to Estoril on the final matchday of the Primeira Liga, Otamendi will have his farewell with the Lisbon side. On the field, that is, since he is a key player for José Mourinho. That said, it will be a goodbye away from his people, as he will not set foot again in the Estádio da Luz, where the crowd chanted his name game after game.

Although he will not lack suitors, this decision clears the way for River, which some time ago presented him with a formal offer and acknowledged that his arrival was well advanced. Since he is about to become a free agent, Stefano Di Carlo’s board will not have to pay a significant fee to sign him, but will instead only take on his contract.

At Benfica, they did everything possible to keep him. From president Rui Costa to coach Mourinho, who spoke weeks ago about the General’s future. “There are people who have the right, so to speak, to choose their future because of everything they have built in football. And Otamendi is one of them.”

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