Coudet confirms Armani will be back in River's 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 that had been highly anticipated in the first months of the year. For Wednesday’s match against Gimnasia, Franco Armani will be back in River’s squad.

Since arriving at the club at the start of 2018, the Pulpo never had his spot in danger. 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 dealing with one injury after another and, at 39, everything indicates that he will return as Santiago Beltrán’s backup.

“By Wednesday, Franco should already be available,” Chacho clarified in a press conference. The truth is that he will be among the players called up and will take a place on the bench. Of course, following the 21-year-old kid’s sending-off in the Copa Sudamericana, Armani is now in line 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 later fibrosis kept him off the pitch 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 fourth goalkeeper in the squad. After letting Conan Ledesma go to Rosario Central and bringing Ezequiel Centurión back from Independiente Rivadavia to serve as backup, nobody expected Beltrán’s emergence. 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 youngster, who has now made 22 appearances in the Primera División (all this year). “What I value most is that he’s a goalkeeper for a big club. He made the saves he had to make, plus the penalties. It’s very difficult to be a goalkeeper for a team that rarely faces shots. He’s doing very well,” he said.

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