14/07/2026 18:12 - Politica
On the night of July 11, 2026, as the Argentine National Team defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, a leaked video revealed an unusual scene in a luxury apartment in Puerto Madero. In the footage, released on July 13, 2026, former Buenos Aires Cabinet Chief Martín Insaurralde is seen smoking a cigar and singing for the national team. Beside him was Juan Nápoli, president of Banco de Valores, a banker close to President Javier Milei and a former candidate for La Libertad Avanza (LLA).
To understand the local context for our international readers: Puerto Madero is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. According to reports from outlets like Perfil and La Voz del Interior, the gathering took place at the residence of Rodrigo Fernández Prieto, a real estate businessman known as the 'Prince of Puerto Madero' and former partner of model Floppy Tesouro. Fernández Prieto was also the first boyfriend of Jésica Cirio, Insaurralde's ex-wife, who is currently being investigated in the same judicial case as the former official.
Following the viral spread of the images, Juan Nápoli issued a statement on July 14, 2026. The libertarian banker claimed his presence did not imply any bond with the former mayor of Lomas de Zamora. 'I went to the birthday party of a friend's wife, who is also my friend. Someone viralized the images from that moment; it was a family party,' he explained. Nápoli detailed that the event had between 60 and 70 people and dismissed any commercial or friendship ties with Insaurralde.
However, according to sources consulted by La Política Online, it was not a birthday but a pre-match gathering to watch the Argentine team play. Nápoli invoked Article 19 of the Argentine Constitution to protect his privacy, emphasizing that the justice system must act regarding Insaurralde's legal situation, and noted they only exchanged comments about the Argentine team's performance.
Martín Insaurralde is currently free but under judicial investigation for alleged money laundering and illicit enrichment. This case gained momentum after videos surfaced showing wads of dollars hidden in a dressing room, filmed by his ex-partner, Jésica Cirio. It is believed that Elías David Piccirillo, Cirio's second ex-husband, might be behind the leak of this new video.
For his part, Juan Nápoli also faces legal challenges. Judicial sources indicated that Banco de Valores, presided over by Nápoli, was raided at the end of 2025 by order of Judge María Servini as part of the 'Sur Finanzas' case, linked to a financial controversy involving the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and an alleged channel for operations with the 'blue dollar' (the unofficial exchange rate).
The public appearance of the former Peronist official alongside a figure close to President Javier Milei generated a transversal silence in Argentine politics. As journalist Rodis Recalt analyzed in Perfil, Insaurralde has become a 'poisonous stain' that makes both political spaces uncomfortable: the ruling party cannot point out the Peronist's impunity without exposing its own man, and Peronism cannot play the victim without touching the libertarian figure.
This episode reflects how, in the face of World Cup football passion, political barriers dissolve. Beyond the football anecdote, the case invites reflection on the importance of transparency and the independent action of the Justice system to strengthen democratic institutions in Argentina.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
