Armani returns, but to the bench: what we know of his River future | OneFootball

Although the captain and veteran goalkeeper has been medically cleared and will return to the squad for the quarterfinals, Chacho will back the youngster’s undeniable form and keep him in goal.

At last, the moment has arrived. Franco Armani has been medically cleared, and the question over what decision Eduardo Coudet would make in River’s goal has been settled: the coach will back Santiago Beltrán’s excellent form and keep him as River’s starter for the Torneo Apertura quarterfinal against Gimnasia next Wednesday. Despite the captain’s return, the manager has already decided that the historic World Cup-winning goalkeeper will start on the bench.

The decision does not go unnoticed given the stature of the Casilda native, but it has a clear explanation: the 20-year-old goalkeeper, who is part of Argentina’s preliminary squad for the World Cup, has been one of the team’s standout players during an inconsistent spell and earned his place with decisive performances.

Beltrán has been crucial in recent weeks. He saved a vital penalty against Bragantino and was the hero in the shootout against San Lorenzo with two saves. In a team that still has not managed to establish consistent form, his performances between the posts have become one of Coudet’s strongest pillars.

That is why, even though Armani is now recovered and available again after his physical issues, the River coach has decided not to change a player who is currently delivering in abundance. The coaching staff’s idea is for the captain to get minutes again in the Copa Sudamericana, specifically on Wednesday, May 20, against Bragantino. Another important factor is that he arrives lacking match rhythm: he has played only 45 minutes in 2026, back in February against Vélez.

At the same time, in recent days rumors have started to grow around Armani’s future in light of this new situation. The possibility of a return to Atlético Nacional was even mentioned again, a club where he once publicly admitted he would like to retire. However, as things stand, there have been no inquiries or concrete contact from Colombia, and the goalkeeper is not considering a departure either.

Far from that, the Pulpo’s intention is to fully recover his best level, fight for the starting spot again, and keep winning things with River. Internally, he is considered an important piece not only because of his experience, but also because of the leadership he provides within the group during a semester packed with objectives.

In this way, Coudet is betting on maintaining Beltrán’s momentum and also sending an internal message: whoever is in the best form will play, regardless of names or résumés. It is a major decision for a River side entering the decisive stage of the semester and in need of immediate answers.

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