Three-way Battle for Santiago Beltrán
The young Argentine goalkeeper is capturing the hearts of several European clubs.
Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa have started to make moves to try to secure the signing of Santiago Beltrán, a young Argentine goalkeeper who has caught the attention of several clubs. River Plate is already looking for a replacement.
According to sources from ESPN Argentina and Tuttomercato on September 24, 2026, the three European clubs have initiated direct contacts and on-site inspections to incorporate the Argentine international goalkeeper, whose transfer is valued at around 18 million pounds (21 million euros).
Parallel negotiations with Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa
The 21-year-old goalkeeper is under contract in Buenos Aires until December 2027, with a release clause set at 25 million dollars (21 million euros). His current market value is at 11.00 million euros on Transfermarkt, and he also has 1 cap with the senior Argentina national team.
Negotiations led by South American executives to extend Beltrán's contract are on hold due to the player and his agency's stance. Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa are looking to leverage the player's EU passport to facilitate his registration for the winter transfer window.
Aston Villa's strategy regarding the potential departure of Emiliano Martínez
While Inter Milan and Manchester United made direct inquiries regarding the transfer conditions, Aston Villa sent a team of scouts to Argentina last week to witness the goalkeeper's performances. Birmingham's club sees Beltrán as a reliable replacement for their goal if Emiliano Martínez leaves at the end of the season.
The shared agent between the 21-year-old goalkeeper and Martínez has expedited the gathering of technical reports by the English club, increasing the likelihood of an official proposal in the short term. Executives from Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa will hold formal meetings with the player's representatives throughout October and November 2026.
If Beltrán's renewal with River Plate remains stalled, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa are considering preparing lucrative offers to sign the young Argentine goalkeeper in the early weeks of January.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Batalla a tres bandas por Santiago Beltrán