The top and free signing that River could close after the World Cup

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Brighton Chelsea

21/04/26 21:00:00

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Nicolás Otamendi is in the final stretch of his time in European football. At 37 years old and with a contract in force until the end of the current season with Benfica, the Argentine center-back is fully aware that his cycle in the elite of the Old Continent is coming to an end. After more than a decade competing at the highest level in the world's top leagues, all signs point to the next chapter of his career being written in his home country.

The roadmap is quite clear. Otamendi wants to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the best possible conditions and, once it is over, definitively decide his future. Although he still feels competitive physically and mentally, the wear and tear of the years and the proximity to his family push him to make a decision that seemed inevitable: to return to Argentina to end his career at home, in a closer and more significant environment.

A gradual farewell to European football

At Benfica, Otamendi has been a prominent figure in the dressing room, providing leadership, hierarchy, and vast international experience. However, time does not stand still, and the Portuguese club is already planning its future with a generational renewal in defense in mind. Everything indicates that there will not be a contract extension, and the separation will occur naturally, without conflicts or reproaches, respecting all that the center-back has contributed to the institution.

The player himself understands this process with maturity. Unlike other stages of his career, the decision now is not so much about the economic or sporting aspect but about the personal one. After years away from Argentina, Otamendi sees returning to his roots in a positive light, reconnecting with his football origins, and having a career closure in line with his trajectory, surrounded by his people and in a much more familiar context.

River Plate takes the lead

In Argentina, Nicolás Otamendi's name is already strongly linked to River Plate. The Núñez club, always attentive to market opportunities that bring hierarchy and experience, sees in the defender a luxury signing that would not entail a transfer cost. His arrival would be free after the end of his contract in Portugal, which is highly attractive in economic and sporting terms.

For River, having a World Cup champion and historical reference for the Argentine national team would be a significant move. It would not only elevate the level on the field but also reinforce leadership in the dressing room and the club's media impact. Otamendi, for his part, would consider joining a competitive institution with continental aspirations and pressure in line with his winning mentality.

A final great challenge at home

Otamendi's potential arrival at River Plate would not be just a sentimental return. The center-back wants to continue competing and proving that he still has football left in his legs. His intention is not to retire passively but to be part of an ambitious project, contribute his experience in crucial moments, and help a big club keep adding titles.

If all goes as planned, once the 2026 World Cup is over, the defender will make the final decision and head to Argentina. There, he will close a circle that began many years ago when he took his first steps as a professional. Everything indicates that the final chapter of a brilliant career will be written on Argentine soil, and River Plate seems ready to be the chosen stage.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El fichaje top y gratis que podría cerrar River tras el Mundial