Demichelis revealed a call from River to Sergio Ramos and gave his perspective on Mastantuono

After his departure from Rayados de Monterrey, Martín Demichelis is enjoying his free time with his family in Spain, while he waits for a new opportunity as a coach. In an interview with As, the former River coach addressed various topics, including two specific names that have marked his recent career: Sergio Ramos and Franco Mastantuono.

Sergio Ramos's call to play for River

"I personally called Sergio last year to bring him to River, when he was already a free agent. He listened to me, thought about it, and a few days later thanked me, but he turned down the offer. When I arrived at Rayados, he was the first player I requested as a reinforcement. The directors made the attempt, but it didn't happen, and in this last transfer window Sergio acknowledged Monterrey's great effort and finally accepted the challenge," said the former defender.

In that regard, he added: "I've always said that Sergio is a unique case, a laboratory case, to be studied in detail. At 39 years old, he keeps a physiology rarely seen. His muscle mass, his strength, his intensity, and speed are top level, but above all, I highlight his ambition and competitive drive. Ramos is a perfect example of tactical intensity. His way of training is admirable."

The details of Mastantuono's rise to River's First Team and his opinion about him

"During 2023, in my first year on River's bench, I kept hearing the surname Mastantuono. I knew even the boys from the U-17 team, but Franco was playing even lower and I hadn't seen him play or train. I sent someone I trust, Edgardo Sbrissa, to watch him. When he returned, he told me that what was being said about him wasn't true because he was even better than that. The next day, in October of that year, we called him up to train and he immediately dazzled me," Demichelis recounted.

Regarding the young player's qualities, he stated: "His personality and maturity caught my attention. He carried himself on and off the field like an older player. I am someone who greatly respects the physiology and processes of the human body in my methodology. In preseason, we had planned to manage his workload, but it turned out that not only did he handle the physical demands normally, but he was one of those who stood out the most in that aspect."

"Franco is a joy to watch when you see him control the ball, dribble, take on an opponent, or take a free kick, and, in addition, he understands the game in an astonishing way for someone so young. Still, the most striking thing is his overwhelming personality. Pressure and responsibility don't weigh on him,  he doesn't seem like a 17-year-old boy. It's absolutely unbelievable," he concluded.

Asked about the parallels with other Argentine football stars, Demichelis was emphatic: "Franco shouldn't be compared to anyone, he should be supported in his development and enjoyed. Maradona was Maradona, Messi is Messi, and Franco will be Franco. He should be protected, supported, and not compared."

To conclude, he highlighted: "He's already a different player without being of legal age. He debuted for River at 16 years old, the youngest player to play with the senior team of the world champions, sold for 45 million euros as a teenager... Call it an era or whatever you want, but he is already a reality shining in the present."