River's captain still isn't at 100%, and Gallardo is considering keeping the young player Santiago Beltrán in the Copa Argentina debut
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The return of Franco Armani to the goal for River still has no confirmed date. Although the goalkeeper has already been training alongside the squad for two weeks, he has not yet been medically cleared and everything indicates that Santiago Beltrán will remain the starter next Tuesday against Ciudad de Bolívar, in the round of 64 of the Copa Argentina.
The captain suffered on January 4 a grade II tearin his right adductor that left him out of the preseason friendlies against Millonarios and Peñarol. When he seemed on track to reappear for the start of the Apertura Tournament, an inflammation in his Achilles tendon once again halted his recovery and forced Marcelo Gallardo to bet on the youngster.
Armani no recibió el alta médica
The scenario was completed by the injury to Ezequiel Centurión, who returned from Independiente Rivadavia with a fracture in his left wrist, and the departure of Jeremías Ledesma to Rosario Central, which left Beltrán as the main alternative.
The young goalkeeper replied solidly at the start of the year: he managed to keep a clean sheet in the two preseason friendlies and the first three rounds of the domestic league. However, in the most recent outings the team suffered two consecutive defeats, including a heavy thrashing against Tigre at the Monumental, and conceded five goals, although Beltrán had little direct responsibility in those actions.
Beltrán tuvo buenas presentaciones en el arco de River
Although there was speculation that Armani could return against Argentinos Juniors after resuming field work, Gallardo decided not to risk him. With the team shaken by recent results and the cycle under scrutiny, the coach is considering fielding a majority of starters in the Copa Argentina, which would reinforce Beltrán's continuity in goal.
River will face Ciudad de Bolívar on Tuesday from 10:00 p.m. at La Pedrera Stadium in San Luis. In the upcoming training sessions it will be decided whether Armani is finally cleared or whether the defense of the Millonario goal will remain in the youngster's hands.
