Armani back in full training, gearing up for his River return | OneFootball

Santiago Beltrán has managed to keep three clean sheets in his three matches as River's goalkeeper and is coming off his best performance in the First Division. The 21-year-old's security provided Marcelo Gallardo with the necessary peace of mind to wait for Franco Armani's recovery. Now, the world champion has rejoined training, and the uncertainty arises: will the captain return against Tigre?

The Octopus started the week working alongside his teammates after overcoming a tear in one of his calves and the subsequent inflammation of the Achilles tendon in the same right leg. This is the first time he has been able to do so since his muscle injury, suffered on Sunday, January 4, at the start of the Millionaire's preseason in San Martín de los Andes.

Although he is the undisputed owner of the position, the Doll intends to give him the necessary time to regain more rhythm and reach his best physical form after a month without being able to train normally. Therefore, Armani might miss the match against Tigre and aim for a return against Argentinos on Thursday, February 11, for the fifth round of the Apertura Tournament.

If everything goes as planned, Beltrán will play his fourth consecutive match before handing back the world's biggest goal to the captain and leader of this River 2026. Of course, his good performances not only allow Armani more time but also position him as the first substitute, a spot he will have to compete for with Ezequiel Centurión, who has recovered from his wrist fracture suffered at the end of his loan at Independiente Rivadavia.

Will River look for a goalkeeper for 2027?

At 39 years old, Armani has a contract until December 2026. For now, there are no ongoing negotiations for a renewal, and in Núñez, they are considering the possibility that the goalkeeper himself might decide to end his cycle at the club or even retire.

In this scenario, and after the departure of Jeremías Ledesma, River is already thinking about searching for a goalkeeper for the upcoming season. Beltrán, who will be 22 in 2027, and Centurión, who returned to be the Octopus's backup, are the only two goalkeepers currently confirmed for next year.

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