OPINION
River Plate midfielder Gonzalo Martinez has confirmed that he will join River Plate in January, suggesting that the MLS champions are lining him up as a replacement for Newcastle United target Miguel Almiron, and Rafa Benitez must act noe to bag his man.
The 25-year-old scored a vital goal in the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors in Sunday evening, and speaking to TyC Sports after the match, said: “I want to inform the fans that in January I will not continue [with the club].
“[Atlanta] is the club that trusted in me. European clubs didn’t trust [in me] in the moment.
“I thought about it a lot with my family, with my representative. It’s a league that’s grown a lot and I hope to continue making history with this club.”
Benitez’s Magpies have been heavily linked with a January move for Atlanta star man Almiron, and a move for Martinez would suggest that the American side are readying themselves for his departure.
A quality player with experience at a high level who plays in the same position as Almiron can only really be interpreted one way, especially when rumours have been so persistent regarding the Paraguayan’s switch to Tyneside.
At first, there were many clubs said to be interested in the 24-year-old, but at this stage, the Magpies would appear to be the clear frontrunners in securing his signature.
That being said, nothing is certain until a contract is signed, and as promising as this development will be for the Toon Army, there will still be clubs circling for a player who has been the standout man in a scintillating Atlanta run to the MLS crown.
Now is the time that Benitez must put his foot down and make sure that the Tyneside club capture their man, both as a statement of intent, and as a much needed boost to their survival hopes.