Caruso Lombardi revealed the disastrous warning that "Chiqui" Tapia gave to Thiago Almada not to sign with River

Thiago Almada is now officially a player for River, and his transfer has become one of the most important in the history of Argentine football. The midfielder signed a contract with the Millonario until December 31, 2030, after the Núñez institution agreed to pay 20 million euros to Atlético de Madrid.

However, after the operation was finalized, a version emerged that had a strong impact: Claudio Tapia allegedly tried to prevent Almada from joining River when negotiations between the player and the club were advanced.

This situation adds to the tension that has existed for some time between River's management and the Argentine Football Association (AFA), especially following the club's criticisms regarding various episodes related to refereeing.

Caruso Lombardi targeted Tapia

In this context, Ricardo Caruso Lombardi referred to the alleged intervention of the AFA president and made a serious accusation related to the Argentine National Team.

The former coach stated that the player had received a warning to refrain from playing for River: “If you sign for River, forget about the Argentine National Team.”

Caruso Lombardi's statement directly targets Tapia and presents a scenario of strong pressure on Almada amid the negotiation.

According to the circulated version, the AFA president allegedly tried to convince the 25-year-old world champion to choose another destination instead of the Millonario.