Overview
- Benfica coach José Mourinho said Nicolás Otamendi’s next step “depends only on him,” making clear the player will decide whether to stay or go.
- Otamendi’s contract in Portugal expires in June, which would let him pick a new club without a transfer fee.
- A move to River Plate, the Buenos Aires giant he supports, is gaining attention in local reporting, though no negotiations or agreement are confirmed.
- At 38, he remains a key figure at Benfica as captain, with 278 matches and several Portuguese trophies on his record.
- He is expected to say goodbye to Argentina after the 2026 World Cup, so any club change would likely track with that post-tournament window.