11/07/2026 04:42 - Deportes
According to a report from Infocielo on July 9, 2026, goalkeeper Franco Armani is set to end his highly successful cycle at River Plate after eight uninterrupted years at the club located in the Núñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. At 39 years old, the native of Casilda would leave the institution as one of the greatest idols in its history, with the hope of writing the final chapters of his tremendous career in the country where he first blossomed: Colombia.
All signs point to Armani having an agreement to return to Atlético Nacional de Medellín, the club where he is an absolute idol just as he is at River Plate, and which represented his great leap to professional stardom before arriving in the Argentine First Division.
Developed in the youth academy of Estudiantes de La Plata (known as 'El León' or The Lion), Armani never made his debut with the first team. His opportunity in professional football arrived in 2008 wearing the jersey of Ferro. He later moved to Deportivo Merlo, where he managed to consolidate his career after an adaptation period, being a key player in the team's promotion to the Primera B Nacional (the Argentine Second Division). These steps through the lower tiers of Argentine football forged the winning mentality that would characterize the rest of his career.
In mid-2010, the goalkeeper signed a three-year contract with Atlético Nacional, eventually extending his stay to a total of seven seasons. There, he played 249 matches, achieved 105 clean sheets, and won an impressive 13 titles, including the historic 2016 Copa Libertadores against Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. His level of performance turned him into an undisputed idol for the fans of 'El Verde' (The Green).
His return to his home country to guard the net for River Plate marked an era of glory. Wearing the iconic jersey with the red diagonal band across the chest, Armani played 366 matches in all competitions and won 10 titles, including the epic 2018 Copa Libertadores against their fierce rivals, Boca Juniors. He was a fundamental pillar during the first stint of Marcelo Gallardo as head coach, establishing himself as one of the most victorious goalkeepers in the history of world football.
His great performance led him to the Argentina National Team. He debuted in the 2018 World Cup in Russia against Nigeria, following a weak performance by the then-starting goalkeeper, Wilfredo Caballero. Under the direction of Lionel Scaloni, he was the starting goalkeeper in the 2019 Copa América and later became a fundamental part of the squads that won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, the Finalissima against Italy at Wembley, and the unforgettable 2022 World Cup in Qatar. An enviable list of honors for a man who had to fight hard in his early days.
Recently, Armani lost his starting spot at River Plate due to the great emergence of young goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán, who not only secured the position but even flirted with a call-up for the 2026 World Cup. Faced with this natural transition scenario, 'El Flaco' (The Skinny) would make the determination to return to the place where everything took off, closing a dream cycle at the Buenos Aires club and opening a new hope for his followers in Colombia, who dream of seeing him defend the goal of 'El Verde' once again.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
