Joaquín Panichelli spoke again about his time at River Plate and did not hide that he has an important unfinished business: not having officially debuted with the Millonario jersey. The current player of Racing Strasbourg fondly recalled that call-up from Marcelo Gallardo in 2022, when he was still very young and dreamed of making the leap to the First Division.
“I missed debuting, I still have that itch. I was still a kid and I lacked in some aspects,” confessed the forward. That phrase summarizes the feeling that still accompanies him today, despite having built a career in Europe.
Panichelli was called up for the first time for the match against Talleres in September 2022. Although he stayed on the bench and did not add any minutes, the experience of living a full day with the first team was unforgettable for him.
In a conversation with Clank, the attacker detailed how he experienced that moment that represents a dream for any kid from the youth teams. “These are things that when you are a kid seem very far away. As you play football and see it from the inside, it becomes more normal,” he explained.
The value of concentration and the locker room
Panichelli recalled specific details of that call-up: being able to concentrate with the team, arriving at the stadium, and sitting on the bench. “Being able to experience it from the inside was special, I enjoyed it a lot,” he highlighted with emotion.
Days later, Gallardo included him again in the list for the match against Patronato, for the quarter-finals of the 2022 Copa Argentina. In that match, he also did not play. That day, Lucas Beltrán and Pablo Solari were starters, while Miguel Borja and Matías Suárez added minutes from the bench.
Despite not having played, the forward greatly values having been part of those moments. For a kid coming from the youth divisions, being close to figures like those River had at that time meant a huge learning experience.
In 2023, Panichelli made the decision to move to Europe in search of minutes and continuity. After a conversation with Martín Demichelis, who was then coaching the Núñez team, it became clear that he would not be a priority in the Millonario squad. That conversation was key for the attacker to seek new horizons.
Today, with more maturity and experience in French football, Panichelli looks back on that stage at River with perspective. The “itch” of not having debuted is still there, but he also recognizes all the positives that came from being part of, even if just for a while, one of the most important squads on the continent.
The forward has a special affection for the club where he took his first steps in the First Division and does not rule out that in the future that unfinished business could be settled in some way, even though his present is far from Argentina.
For now, Panichelli remains focused on his career in the Old Continent, where he seeks to establish himself and continue growing as a professional footballer. That call-up from Gallardo is etched as a milestone in his journey, a memory that motivates him to keep striving to achieve his goals.
